NT Reporter
Panaji
The state government has amended the schedule under the Goa Right of Citizens to Time Bound Delivery of Public Services Act, 2013, prescribing strict timelines for processing applications for land conversion under Section 32 of the Goa Land Revenue Code.
Under the amended procedure, the process begins with the collector, deputy collector or sub-divisional officer, who is required to scrutinise the application and forward it to the authorities concerned —including the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department, mamlatdar and Forest Department, wherever necessary—within three days of receiving the application.
Once the application reaches the field authorities, the mamlatdar has 10 days to inspect the proposal and submit a report to the revenue authorities. Where a TCP clearance is required, the Town Planner has also been given 10 days to furnish the department’s report. Similarly, if the proposal involves forest-related issues, the deputy conservator of forests must submit the Forest Department’s report within 10 days.
After receiving these reports, the collector, deputy collector or SDO must forward the papers to the Land Survey Department within three days. The inspector of land survey is then required to complete the survey and submit the survey report within 10 days from the date of receipt of the order.
Based on the survey findings and reports received from all departments concerned, the collector, deputy collector or SDO must take a final decision on the land conversion application within five days of receiving the survey report.
If the application is approved, the final Sanad, which legally authorises the conversion of land, must be issued by the collector, deputy collector or SDO within one day after payment of the prescribed fees by the applicant.
The processing of land conversion applications by introducing clearly defined timelines and accountability at every stage, thereby reducing delays and ensuring faster delivery of services to citizens under the state’s time-bound public service framework.
