Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, recently announced plans to amend land laws in the upcoming assembly session to crack down on land grabbing. The amendments, based on recommendations from retired Justice V K Jadhav’s commission, aim to prevent and penalise fraudulent land acquisitions, particularly those using forged Portuguese-era documents. Around 110 pending land grabbing cases will be consolidated into a single court for swift resolution.
Additionally, Dr Sawant stated that all unclaimed “no man’s land” will be reclaimed by the Government. He emphasised that decisions will align closely with the commission’s findings, which were submitted last November.
Regarding environmental initiatives, Dr Sawant mentioned the imminent arrival of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) map in a 1:4000 scale from the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai. This map will be distributed to local panchayats for public verification, facilitating the finalisation of CZMP 2019.
The Chief Minister also addressed infrastructure projects, confirming that the Porvorim 6-lane elevated flyover is scheduled for completion within two years, pending community cooperation. Concerns raised by local MLA and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte have reportedly been addressed.
Furthermore, the State cabinet approved several measures, including an increase in MBBS student stipends from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000, extension of the CM Fellowship program by three years, and the transfer of the Sewage Corporation to the Finance Department from the Public Works Department.
