Ordinances will be issued to amend the Comunidades Code.

Special Correspondent

Panji: In a major decision taken at the cabinet meeting held on Monday, the state government gave the green signal to issue an ordinance to amend the Code of Municipalities to allow any change in the purpose of land use. .

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told a press conference that the cabinet has approved the amendment to the code prohibiting the use of communed land, including rezoning for any other purpose.

He added that land use change will not be allowed. Under the current provisions, Comunidade land can be allocated through various means such as sale, lease, emphaticus, or leave and license. However, there are instances where land has been used for purposes other than its original purpose, raising concerns about the conservation of these lands.

Sawant said that a new Article 31-A is being introduced through the proposed amendment to address this issue. This provision will empower the administrator of the Comunidades to investigate complaints of misuse of the purpose for which the land has been allocated.

If unauthorized use is found, the administrator will issue a show-cause notice to the grantee or person in possession of the land, allowing them to explain their position. The Administrator shall have the power to order the return of the land to the Comunidade with the approval of the Government.

Sawant clarified that if the land is given for housing, education, industry, government works and similar projects, it has to be used only for the specific purpose.

“No authority including the Department of Town and Country Planning, Planning and Development Authorities, Municipal Councils, Village Panchayats, and the Corporation of Panjim will issue any permission, clearance or no-objection certificate for change of land use,” he said. said.

The Chief Minister pointed out that “the Code of Communities will be amended through the introduction of Article 31A, through an amendment to the Goa Legislative Diploma,” which the government will bring through an ordinance. Which will be released soon as the assembly is not in session.

In another decision, the cabinet approved the implementation of the Unified Pension Scheme in the state, which is expected to burden the state exchequer by an additional Rs 10 crore per month.

The special scheme was introduced by the Center earlier this year in August.

Assured pension with 50% of the average basic pay in the last 12 months before retirement for a minimum qualifying service of 25 years, pro rata for shorter service period up to a minimum of 10 years of service, one of them is Salient features of the specific scheme.

Family pension at the rate of 60 per cent of the employee’s pension immediately before his death and assured minimum pension of Rs 10,000 per month on retirement after at least 10 years of service are other features.

In another decision, the Cabinet approved the extension of the Goa IT Policy 2018 with its schemes and amended Empowered Committee.

The policy, which ran for a period of five years from August 2018, ended in August 2023. The Bharatiya Janata Party launched the policy with the aim of promoting Goa’s development using innovation and technology, with the aim of creating 10,000 jobs. In the state

The Chief Minister also said that the Cabinet has reviewed the scheme for children of Job for Freedom Fighters, giving priority to families who do not have any government jobs.

He added that around 30 to 35 children of freedom fighters still need employment.

The revised scheme aims to provide employment opportunities to the families of freedom fighters, who need them the most.

The Cabinet also approved seven posts of veterinary officers on contract basis in the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services.