Goa offers market rate, annuity for land acquired
By IANSWednesday, December 8, 2010
PANAJI - Facing public ire over its ad hoc policy for land acquisition for mining and hospitality-related projects, the Goa government has announced it would pay the landowner a market rate as well as an annuity for a fixed term of 20 years, in lieu of the land acquired for projects with a “public purpose”.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat told reporters here that the new land acquisition policy would be implemented by the end of the month.
“This policy will ensure that the person whose land is acquired for a public project by the government will be compensated with a market rate for the piece of land,” Kamat said.
The chief minister said that the market rate would be decided by a committee, which would include the collectors of Goas two districts.
Over and above the market rate, we are also looking at providing for annuity for about 20 years for those whose orchards or farmland is acquired by the government, Kamat said.
The new land acquisition policy was based on recommendations of the Goa Law commission headed by former union minister of state for law Ramakant Khalap, he added.
The Goa governments earlier moves to acquire land for public purpose and then handing over the tracts of land for setting up hospitality or mining related infrastructure have been criticised by civil society groups.
A near civic uprising in the state some years back had forced the state government to cancel seven special economic zone (SEZ) projects, after activists alleged large-scale corruption in the manner in which the land was acquired and handed over to SEZ promoters.
