Churchill opposes land ban on foreigners
BY HERALD REPORTER
Says decision will hurt Goans in UK
PANJIM, MAY 29 – In what could be inferred as a tit for tat response to
Shantaram Naik on four-lanning of NH-17, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao today
categorically announced that he would in no way support the Government’s plan
to ban sale of land to foreigners.
Addressing a press conference in the city, Alemao said that during his recent
visit to the United Kingdom he was confronted by several people over the issue.
“They told me that ‘if you are going to send our people back by banning the
sale of land we too will return the compliment’,” he said.
Churchill said about 10 lakh Goan population is residing in the UK; they have
bought properties worth lakhs and crorers.
“Every Goan living there has his own house there and how can we object to them
buying property here?” he asked.
“I can understand if it is a government land it cannot be sold to anyone. But,
what is the problem (in selling) private land?” he asked adding “if you have
any problem catch the seller not the buyer.”
“I also don’t understand under which law they will do this and I will never
support the government on this issue,” he said.
It may be recalled that Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik, who had moved a Private
Members Bill in the Parliament, had opposed the government plans to undertake
the four-lanning of NH-17 from Patradevi to Polem on its own.
It can be safely presumed that that the sudden outburst of Churchill could be a
tit for tat response to Shantaram.
The State government enacted a new Registration Act making it utmost difficult
for foreigners to buy land in the State.
Law Minister Dayanand Narvekar, presenting the new legislation in the House,
said the government has taken a policy decision to “ban foreigners from buying
land in the State.”
Goa has recently witnessed unprecedented rush by foreigners to buy land,
reportedly, in violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
The State government which has come down heavily on such violations has enacted
the Goa Registration Act in place of the 100-year-old Indian Registration Act
making it difficult for foreigners to by land here.
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