-- Samir Umarye PANJIM: In a major victory to Mayem villagers, who were fighting for land, on which their homes stood, since Liberation, the government on Wednesday notified the Goa ( Abolition of Proprietorships, Titles and Grants of Lands) Act, 2014 following assent being given by Governor Om Prakash Kohli.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar informed the Goa Assembly that government has notified the Act and the same has been sent to printing and stationary department for printing in the gazette. He said that the Goa Governor on August 15 gave its assent to the bill, which was sent back to government by former Governor B V Wanchoo. “ On August 15, Governor gave freedom to people of Mayem,” Parrikar said assuring that within next one year all the issues would be settled. Government had introduced the Goa ( Abolition of proprietorships, titles and grants of lands) bill, 2014, in the Goa assembly, on March 5, 2014, for abolishing the rights of landlords over the evacuee properties that were acquired from the Portuguese government. Wanchoo had in July returned the bill stating that it was drafted in a “ hurry” and sounded “ cut and paste” job with certain sections taken from similar laws pertaining to other parts of the country. The bill seeks to allow compensation to persons whose property rights will be abolished but are not regranted to them. But, exact compensation payable therefore cannot be quantified at this stage, the bill mentioned. Importantly, the bill states that all such lands which are presently vested in the custodian of evacuee property, as ' evacuee property' under the Goa, Daman and Diu Administration of Evacuee Property Act, 1964, including properties and lands in Mayem, Bicholim, Cuncolim, Siolim or in any part of Goa shall stand transferred to and vest in the government of Goa, free from all encumbrances, mortgage, debt, or charge of any kind. The Act transfers to and vests in the Government of Goa all lands previously vested in the custodian of evacuee properties MAYEM LAND CASE
