Mopa (Goa): The illegalities related to land use that has plagued Goa is now worry of Maharashtra government too, thanks to uncontrolled tourism in bordering Sindhudurg district.
Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankhule on Wednesday said the state government will conduct a detailed inquiry into complaints that people from outside Maharashtra have illegally acquired agricultural land in the border talukas of Sawantwadi and Dodamarg by falsely claiming to be farmers.
Speaking to reporters at Manohar International Airport Mopa in North Goa, Bawankhule said he had been touring the region for the past few days and had received complaints regarding the alleged illegal land transactions.
The minister has toured Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg in Maharashtra.
He said under Section 63 of the Maharashtra land laws, only a farmer is permitted to purchase agricultural land, while non-farmers cannot acquire such land.
“The complaint is that people from outside the state have purchased farmers’ land by projecting themselves as farmers. We will conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter,” the minister said.
Bawankhule also said complaints had been received about residential plotting being carried out on agricultural land without the required zoning permissions.
“Residential plotting cannot be undertaken on agricultural land unless it is first designated as a residential zone. This is also a serious issue,” he said.
The minister said the issue had been raised in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, following which an inquiry committee headed by the district collector was constituted.
According to Bawankhule, the panel comprises two collectors and other senior officials and has been tasked with investigating the complaints.
“Appropriate action will be taken after the committee submits its report,” he added.
