log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 2, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline >P14 INDIA COMPLETES 2-0 SWEEP AFTER SEVEN-WICKET WIN VS BANGLADESH 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 105 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Govt move on comunidade land triggers debate THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The State government’s decision to amend the Code of Comunidades, aimed at restricting the change of use of comunidade land for purposes other than those for which it was originally allotted, has sparked widespread debate among stakeholders. While the government claims that the amendment will protect the traditional land tenure system from misuse, several key figures in Goa’s comunidade system view the move with skepticism, calling it either unnecessary or ineffective. Self-sufficiency of Comunidade code A prominent comunidade leader, Andre Pereira sees the amendment as an act of “mischief-making,” arguing that the existing Code of Comunidades already addresses the issue of land misuse through provisions that allow for forfeiture of land. According to Pereira, Articles 371 and 372 of the Code provide sufficient legal avenues to address unauthorised land use, making any additional amendments redundant. He emphasises that the Code is self-contained and criticises the government’s motives, hinting that external influences may be at play. Pereira’s perspective raises a fundamental question about the need for such an amendment. If existing laws already pro- Issues at stake as Goa opens doors for tourists today FOCUS ON INFRA, TRANSPORT, GARBAGE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As Goa welcomes its first charter flight today -- marking the start of the 2024-25 tourist season -- the State continues to grapple with long-standing issues right from transportation to parking woes, cleanliness, poor road infrastructure and inadequate waste management. The never-ending conflict between tourist taxi operators and cab aggregators has been widely debated on social media with most comments reflecting dissatisfaction with taxi services and visitor travel experiences. In a recent incident at the Shree Mahalaxmi Temple premises, a tourist cab driver behaved arrogantly with an elderly tourist couple while they were offering prayers. The AMENDMENT: VOICES OF DISSENT 1 Andre Pereira a comunidade leader sees the amendment as an act of “mischief-making,” arguing that the existing Code of Comunidades already addresses the issue of land misuse through provisions that allow for forfeiture of land vide for the forfeiture of land in cases of misuse, then what gap is the proposed change seeking to fill? His view suggests the government might be attempting to create a perception of reform, even though the legal framework already allows for addressing the issue. Government of India 2 Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira expressed strong reservations, calling it a “sugar-coated pill” and highlighted that once a comunidade grants definitive possession of land to an allottee, that land becomes the property of the allottee Challenges of land ownership rights Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira, a former Advocate General of Goa, expresses strong reservations, calling it a “sugar-coated pill.” He highlights that once a comunidade grants definitive possession of land to an al- 3 Saligao Comunidade President Desmond Da Costa argued that government’s proposed amendment is largely redundant, as the current law already allows landowners to use their land for various purposes once ownership is vested lottee, that land becomes the property of the allottee, who enjoys full ownership rights. Ferreira’s argument is rooted in established principles of property law, where ownership includes the right to use and enjoy land in perpetuity. He sees the amendment as an attempt to curtail these rights, but questions its efficacy, given that the current legal framework already grants absolute ownership to the allottee upon payment of dues. Ferreira’s stance underscores a critical legal challenge to the amendment. If ownership rights are already vested fully in the allottees, can the government’s proposed amendment truly limit the use of land? More importantly, Ferreira suggests that for government to genuinely prevent changes in land use, the amendment must be retrospective – a step he believes is unlikely to be taken, given its potentially contentious nature. Stakeholder criticism Other comunidade leaders echo similar concerns. Saligao Comunidade President Desmond Da Costa argues that the proposed amendment is largely redundant, as the current law already allows landowners to use their land for various purposes once ownership is vested. He views the amendment as a superficial attempt to appear proactive. Da Costa stresses that any meaningful change would first require a broader overhaul of the country’s property laws, which currently permit such usage. Assagao Comunidade President Ruildo D’Souza questions utility of the amendment, suggesting once definitive ownership is granted, any attempt to control how the land is used becomes futile. Government’s motivations A recurring theme in the criticism of the proposed amendment is the belief that it is a political move rather than a genuine effort to safeguard comunidade land. Both Pereira and Ferreira suggest that the government’s motivations may be more about managing public perception ahead of the forthcoming elections than about effectively addressing land misuse. In its current form, the amendment seems unlikely to satisfy either legal experts or the comunidade leadership, many of whom view it as a political manoeuvre rather than a serious attempt to address the issue at hand. Nation pays tribute to Gandhi Ji and Shastri Ji on their Birth Anniversary driver in an all-white uniform asked the couple to return to the car they hired for their trip without delay while onlookers watched helplessly. This incident is part of a broader pattern of inappropriate behaviour by taxi drivers if not all, besides clashes with cab aggregators, leaving tourists as the ultimate victims. The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) President Jack Sukhija called for streamlining certain aspects >Continued on P7 Russian flight to kick off season Govt to review base value of properties 15-MEMBER COMMITTEE FORMED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Considering the current market trends, the Goa government has initiated a process to revise the base land rates as well as built-up rates of properties in the State. The government has constituted a 15-member committee under Revenue Secretary to determine, analyse and revise the base rates notified earlier towards various categories of land and built-up rates of properties. In an order issued on Monday, Under Secretary (Revenue I) Vrushika Kauthankar said that the committee will have to carry out the analysis of the current market trends and propose the revised base rate for land and also suggest a mechanism for periodic revision. The committee has to suggest ways to improve the revenue mobilization or collection of State government and guidelines or formula COMMITTEE BRIEF „„To analyse market trends, propose revised base rate for land „„Suggest mechanism for periodic revision „„Recommend how to carry out ease of doing business „„Suggest ways to improve revenue mobilization for calculation of rates for land building, etc of different kinds. The committee, which will be in force for a period of two years, will also recommend to >Continued on P7 Tribute to Bapu 10 Years of Swachh Bharat Mission Ensuring a dignified life through construction of 12 crore toilets 100% villages now Open Defecation Free Solid and Liquid Waste Management Systems in villages as well Waste being collected in 97% wards of the cities Solid Waste Processing in cities increased from 18% to 78% 5,000 Waste Management Startups launched Let’s make Swachh Bharat Diwas 2024 memorable Let us all come together today from 9 AM to 10 AM and contribute to cleanliness across the country Swachh Bharat Diwas 2024 Chief Guest Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Bapu's impact is global, motivating the entire humankind to further the spirit of unity and compassion. Whereas Shastri ji's simplicity, dedication to the nation, and iconic call for 'Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan' resonates even today, inspiring generations. - Narendra Modi 10 AM onwards, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi Live On DD News cbc 22201/13/0028/2425 PANAJI: Goa’s charter season begins today with the arrival of the first direct Aeroflot flight from Russia at Manohar International Airport, Mopa. Two flights from Russia are scheduled to arrive at 8 am and 9 am today, carrying around 350 passengers. Five weekly flights are planned through October and this frequency will increase to six flights per week. One flight arrives from Moscow and another from Yekaterinburg, both managed by Concord Exotic Voyages (I) Pvt Ltd.