Staff Reporter
Panaji
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced on Wednesday that henceforth no new sanad (a certificate granting permission for non-agricultural use) will be issued for farmlands, as per the Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land
Act, 2023,
When mediapersons pointed out that despite notifying the new agriculture policy by the government, paddy fields are being filled up in Taleigao, the Chief Minister said a sanad must have been obtained much earlier for the said work.
“But I will ask officials to check this particular landfilling in Taleigao,” he said.
Through the new agriculture policy we would emphasise on encouraging agriculture. As per the new act, the government will not allow the issuance of sanad for converting agriculture land to non-agricultural purposes, Sawant said.
As per the procedure, if a landowner wants to change the designated use of their property, then he/she must apply to the government for permission to convert the land for a non-agricultural status, and once approved, they receive a sanad approval certificate.
“Now the government will be strict on this, and no sanad for converting agricultural land will be granted,” he reiterated.