For us, traditionally, foreigners are those who are from the other countries e.g white, black, mixed etc
Foreigners of Indian origin (including Goans) are not foreigners in the eyes of FEMA laws. We (NRI) can buy any property in Goa except Agricultural land. And to buy property, one need not have to have OCI or PIO card. Nor we have to notify RBI (earlier, there was a provision to notify RBI after purchasing the property). Who is NRI? The one who was born in India or Portuguese India before 1961 or whose either parents was born in India or whose either grand parents born in India. Did you know? I think, on an average, an NRI (Mainly EU/US/CAN etc) owns about 1.5 units properties in India and most of it purely for investment purposes Many NRIs own upto 5 properties like flats/apartment/Land etc. When I say NRI, it does not necessarily mean Goan NRIs but there are many Punjabis, Gujraties, Keralite  NRIs too. It is obvious (from above) that the NRIs too are responsible for the current high prices of land and properties in Goa. JoeGoaUk owns two properties one Land at Kadamba Plateau bought in 1995 and a 3bed apt, apart from the mansion he lives in now and the bungalow in the north Goa of which we talked about few years ago (SEE PICS BELow) FEMA act or law can only be changed by the Central Govt/RBI/Parliament. It is not something that can be changed on Goa Government recommendations alone. Note: JoeGoaUk's views only (not taken from anywhere) ================ Over 600 viewed his bungalow, if you have not seen yet, view it now http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk4/178985034/sizes/o/ >From here, he talks to the world (including you) http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk4/181469267/ For Indian guests, he has this too http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk4/181469269/ This one is at Agxi http://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk13/2308793210/ ====================== --- On Fri, 30/5/08, Paulo Colaco Dias <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Paulo Colaco Dias <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [GOAN-NRI] Churchill opposes land ban on foreigners To: [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED], "'Goans_Tanzanite'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Friday, 30 May, 2008, 2:15 AM As always, it appears to me that there is huge confusion on this issue.   Goans are persons of Indian Origin and therefore they can buy property in India even if they do not hold Indian citizenship. It would be impossible for the Goan government to ban persons of Indian Origin from buying property in India.   Please correct me if I am wrong but it just does not make sense to me.   I think the article fails to make a distinction between foreigners who are not of Indian origin and foreigners who are of Indian origin.   Goans are of Indian origin and therefore are exempted from permission of the Reserve Bank of India when purchasing property in India. It has always been like this.   Too much confusion in the news...   Best regards Paulo.     From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] s.co.in [mailto:GOAN- [EMAIL PROTECTED] co.in] On Behalf Of renebarreto Sent: 30 May 2008 13:37 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] s.co.in; [EMAIL PROTECTED] s.com; Goans_Tanzanite Subject: [GOAN-NRI] Churchill opposes land ban on foreigners 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.  ============ ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ========= = No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. 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