Law to be amended to protect land with absentee owners, no heirs, says Goa CM

Announcement comes after Four persons, including two officials employed with the State Archives and Archeology department, were arrested by SIT for alleged land grabbing.

The Goa government will amend the law to give protection to 'No Man' properties in the State whose original owners are out of the country or who do not have heirs.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, after chairing a high-level meeting on Monday on the issue of land grabbing, said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had busted a gang that was eyeing such properties.

"We will move amendment to the law in the upcoming Assembly session to give protection to 'No Man' properties whose original owners are out of the country or who do not have heirs," the CM said.

Four persons, including two officials employed with the State Archives and Archeology department, were recently arrested by SIT for alleged land grabbing.

Mr. Sawant said this gang had forged documents of at least 91 properties, ranging in size from 8,000 square metres to 80,000 square metres, after realising these plots did not have owners or heirs.

"The entire list of 91 properties has been forwarded to collectors of both districts with instructions that further mutation or conversion of these properties should not be allowed. Those who have purchased these properties should immediately contact the concerned collector. We will make public the list of these properties by Monday (today) evening," Mr. Sawant informed.

He added that Minister for Archives and Archeology Subhash Phal Dessai and Law Minister Nilesh Cabral would be called for the next meeting to review the SIT's progress in the probe into land grabbing cases.