PROPOSED CHANGES TO LAND LAWS FYAYED : GXE , A FARMERS ORGANISATION IN GOA

Proposed amendments to the Goa, Daman and Diu Agriculture Tenancy Act, 1964, the Land Revenue Code 1968 and the Goa Land Use (regulation) Act 1991 have come under fire from the farmers community in the state, who alleged that it will sound the death knell of agriculture due to bending of rules for large-scale conversion of agricultural land, resulting in displacement of cultivators and socio-economic problems. Though the bills have not yet been introduced in the Goa assembly, they were notified for eliciting public opinion. Goenchea Xetkareancho Ekvott (GXE), a farmers organization, has demanded that the government "reconsider the bills and remove all substantive changes" that tend to dilute or lift existing restrictions on land use in the eco-sensitive zones within Goa. "The passing of these amendments shall allow construction on lands which are not permissible for non-agricultural use under the existing law, threatening the very character of our state and survival of future generations," Dilip Hegde, GXE president said. Explains Abhijeet Prabhudesai, a GXE member, "As per Section 32 of Goa Land Revenue Code, no agricultural land can be used for non-agricultural purpose without obtaining conversion sanad from the collector, but incorporating section 32A means the collector can grant the conversion sanad if any land is shown in settlement, notwithstanding anything contained in Section 32, just on payment of conversion fees." Another amendment to the Goa Land Use (regulation) Act 1991 seeks to remove restrictions on the use of land which is vested in a tenant while the third amendment to Goa Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act 1964 seeks to provide powers to the mamlatdar to give sanction for non-agricultural purpose on tenanted land. "This will result in huge and irreversible damage to the environment," GXE said.