PANAJI
In a major decision, the Pramod Sawant-led State Cabinet on Monday accorded its approval to amend the Code of Comunidade in a bid to restrain the change of use of such land for any alternative purpose other than it is allotted. An Ordinance in this regard would be promulgated soon.
The decision comes at a backdrop of ongoing protest against use of comunidade land for setting up of Private University at Tivim. Around 2 lakh sq mtrs of comunidade land has been marked as Investment Promotion Area.
Addressing media persons post Cabinet meeting, Sawant said that the decision has been taken to introduce Article 31 A to the Code of Comunidades by way of amendment to the Goa Legislative Diploma No 2070 dated April 15, 1961.
He said that as per the amendment, the Administrator of Comunidade during the pendency of proceedings before it shall pass an order restraining the change of use of such land for any purpose other than the purpose for which the land was so granted.
“The amendment speaks about no change of land or zone, once it is allotted. The land provided by the comunidade for a particular use like for residential, institutional, and industrial or government projects will not be allowed to be changed at any cost,” he said.
The Chief Minister explained that on passing of such order by the Administrator of Comunidade, no authority including the department of town and country planning, planning and development authority, local panchayat or municipal council or CCP, shall be allowed to issue any permission or clearance or no objection for land use.
Responding to a question, Sawant said that off-late, the government has come across several cases where it is found that the comunidade land use, even after allotment, has been changed for other purposes.
The MIT World Peace University has proposed to establish its private university at Tivim at an area of around 2 lakh sq meters, which belongs to comunidade. However, the project is facing widespread opposition from the locals as well as from some gaunkars. A signature campaign is also launched against the project.
The Goa Investment Promotion Board (IPB) has granted in-principle approval to the project and has proposed the said area as Investment Promotion Area.
