'Over 40 lakh sq mr agri land illegally converted in Goa'

Over 40 lakh square metres of orchard and agricultural land has been illegally converted in Goa, State Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai told the Legislative Assembly today.
He also announced that a comprehensive legislation will be brought in the next Budget session to check such activity.
Sardesai was addressing the House during passing of the amendment to TCP (Town and Country Planning) Bill, 2017, making it mandatory to get a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the department for the sale of orchard or agricultural land in the state.
"We will introduce a comprehensive legislation during the upcoming budget session," the minister said.

He said the only intention of the government to bring such legislation is to have a planned development.
Sardesai said huge tracts of orchard and agriculture land were converted illegally thereby allowing unplanned and illegal development.
"More than 40 lakh square metres of land is converted so far and we have to stop further conversion," he added.
The minister said the government would frame guidelines to give time-bound clearances for sale of land within next one to two months.