PANAJI: Facing criticism is widespread against Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarni Bill, 2021, Chairman of the Pramod Sawant minister on Tuesday night conceded a “request”, and promised to dropped the word ‘Bhumiputra’ from the bill.
Sawant, in a recorded statement was released on Tuesday night, said the bill would be reintroduced at the Goa legislative winter session in the next two months.
Recognizing that there was a lot of concern about the law, Sawant invited residents to provide advice on Goaonline.gov.in from Wednesday, and said that “positive advice” will be accepted.
“I want to delete one thing: the sentiments of people attached to ‘Bhumiputra’, and the state government is ready to eliminate (said) ‘Bhumiputra’ from the bill.
I give (I) guarantee that (word) Bhumiputra will be removed from the bill,” he said.
Sawant said that many people said that the word Bhumiputra should not be used in the bill, and that they had told him to remove it.
CM adds that these people don’t have other objections to the bill.
These disadvantaged people including BJP St Morcha, who told the santan sentiment they were injured, pushed CM to promise them to remove the Word.
The National Secretary General of Morcha, Ramesh Tawadkar, said that the word ‘Bhumiputra’ on behalf of the bill would “resolve” the identity and originality of the St.
Community in the country, and demanded it.
He also said Morcha did not oppose the bill and that “encroachment was Goans and this bill would give them rights”.
“Most goans are covered in a 30-year domicile clause,” he said.
“Those who come from outside must have bought around 100-150 square feet of land; there will be a rare example where outsiders have penetrated the land.” Defending the bill against criticism and ridicule attacks, Sawant said that more than 1.5 house lakh would “Benefited” through this bill.
He added that the bill had brought the interests of the company, and rejected fears that it would only help migrants.
Reacting to worries that people who live in a rented house can become the owner, Sawant says people who have water, electricity or home tax with their own names can only submit a claim under this bill.
“Those who live in rental homes cannot claim under this law,” he said.
The minister’s chairman said that there were around 6.5 houses lakh in 191 Panchayats Village and 14 cities, which have an electrical connection.
“These houses belong to Goans and they have home numbers, water connections and electrical connections, but only 20% of homes are built by getting a license,” he said.
Sawant said that about half of the houses in Goa did not have the name of the owner in the form of I and XIV, and that was the reason why many people submitted a case.
“From 6.5 lakh houses (in the state), if we consider 50%, then 3 lakh does not have the name of the owner in the form I and XIV,” he said.
He added that around 6,000 houses faced demolition in villages and municipalities.
“If we verify all 6,000 houses, we know that most people are GOANS, and they are not migrants.
We have verified (this),” he said.
Sawant said that the government had studied other actions before getting a bill passed, and even conducted a survey of houses.
He said that related actions, Mundkar laws were told in a country that gave the right to the house, and added that there were many cases delayed under the action.
“More than 3,000 cases are delayed under Mundkar law,” Sawant said.
“The arrangement of the Houses Law was passed in 2014, and below, 8,000 people had implemented and 500 cases had been discarded, the rest was delayed due to Amendment TCP Act.
We also have changed the TCP and the rest will be resolved,” Sawant said.
Sawant said that Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini’s bill, 2021, was taken to discuss people who were not under the Mundkar law and Regularization of Act Houses, and who owned houses on government land, land and private land.
“With this bill, we can bring people names directly into I & XIV, and they can get the right to land and get their home regularly,” he said.