Real estate developers upset over move on conversion sanads

Navhind Times | 6 days ago | 14-05-2022 | 02:04 am

Staff ReporterPanajiThe real estate developers in the state are upset by a move from the revenue minister’s office to refer, all files pertaining to conversion sanads for land above 1,000 square metres, to the revenue department for approval.A note issued by the revenue minister recently has asked the government to issue instructions to the North and South Goa Collectors respectively on the same.“In the meantime all the files with regard to conversion of land above 1,000 sq. mtrs are to be placed in abeyance,” says the note.The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI- Goa) president, Nilesh Salkar, on Friday, said, “We are given to understand that a note is being moved to refer conversion sanad files, of land admeasuring above 1,000 square metres, to the government for approval. If this is true, then it will definitely undo all the positive sentiments that are present amongst the stakeholders. We urge the Chief Minister to study the matter and take a pragmatic decision which will keep the confidence of the sector high.”Salkar said that the developer’s body would meet the Chief Minister shortly asking for the proposal from the revenue department to be dropped.“We hope that the note is rescinded and the present system continues,” said Salkar. He explained that conversion sanad files are cleared at the Collector’s level in the state.“While the TCP department is moving forward by easing the approval process for builders, the revenue department is pulling the other way,” remarked Salkar.Towards ease of doing business for the local real estate industry, the government had recently launched online approval system for projects up to 5,000 square metres.COVID-19 has badly hit the housing and construction industry in the state. Further the industry is also adversely affected by the steep increase in raw material prices and labour shortages.In Goa with most of the land agricultural, if builders want to construct on it they need to convert it by obtaining a conversion sanad.A survey carried out by CREDAI has revealed that 74% of builders seek ease of doing business from the government for revival of the industry.The state presently has 873 ongoing real estate housing projects in various stages of completion.

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Times of India | 20 hours ago | 20-05-2022 | 04:57 am

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Vasco: Verna police arrested Kishan Kalangutkar, 26, a resident of New Vaddem, Vasco, in connection with the murder of a 19-year-old girl whose body was found at Velsao beach on Thursday. Diya Naik, who was also from New Vaddem, went missing from Wednesday evening. Her family said that she didn’t come home. Kalangutkar and Naik were friends, police said. SP (South Goa) Abhishek Dania tweeted, “Blind murder case of Miss Diya Naik r/o New Vaddem Vasco solved within 24 hrs by South District team. Accused apprehended. Further investigation is in progress”. Vasco DySP Nilesh Rane said that the body of the girl was found at Velsao beach with stab injuries. Although he refused to divulge more details, Rane said that the investigation is in progress and police are probing the case from all angles. A source said that the body was found in the bushes and the crime appeared to have taken place on Wednesday. Verna PI Diago Gracias is investigating the case under the supervision of Rane.

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Times of India | 20 hours ago | 20-05-2022 | 04:12 am

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Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant held a meeting with Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on Thursday to discuss efforts to attract new private investments into the state along with steps that can improve the ease of doing business for existing local industries. GCCI president Ralph de Sousa said that administrative reforms need to be introduced in all government departments so that the private sector can operate efficiently. Pointing out that the government aims to remove the need for various licences, Sawant said that the government has introduced ease of doing business reforms in the town and country planning department with more reforms planned in other departments. GCCI also urged the state government to reduce power transmission and distribution losses, obtain more power from the Centre and form district-level committees to oversee the power situation. “Regarding labour issues, GCCI requested a dialogue with the industry and government in labour-related matters. We have also asked the government to promote mass plantation of Goan fruit bearing trees along national highways,” Sousa said. GCCI has assured full support to create awareness about various schemes announced both at the state and the national level. Chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel along with other officials were present for the meeting. During his interaction, Sawant spoke about nurturing Goa into an agro industry state, while also facilitating growth of tourism, logistics, retail and manufacturing sectors. The chief minister also agreed to set up a Grievance Redressal Committee with GCCI members and industry stakeholders. The committee will directly connect with the chief minister’s office and discuss industry specific issues. Sawant said that the committee would aim to resolve all major concerns within six months. Sawant informed GCCI that the state government is working with the Telangana government to emulate their industrial model in Goa. He also said that a retail policy and logistics policy for Goa is on the anvil. The chief minister assured industry representatives that the Mormugao port connectivity will be completed within the next six to nine months. “This will be part of the multimodal linkage under the Gati Shakti programme and modernisation of infrastructure,” Sawant said.

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Navhind Times | 22 hours ago | 20-05-2022 | 02:02 am

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Navhind Times | 23 hours ago | 20-05-2022 | 01:57 am

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Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that his government will recommend to the state election commission (SEC) to defer the elections to 186 village panchayats so as to adopt triple test for reserving wards for other backward classes.Interacting with media persons in Panaji, Sawant said the government will not do any injustice to the people belonging to OBCs.“I have received the opinion of the Advocate General on the recent verdict of the Supreme Court. If we hold the polls immediately then we will have to hold elections without reserving even a single ward; we don’t want to do this. We want to give reservation to OBCs as they constitute 27% of the state’s total population,” Sawant explained.“Government can’t postpone the elections; it is the discretion of the SEC. We will seek time.”“If the poll panel grants time then we will ask the OBC Commission to complete the triple test exercise. Once the report of the OBC Commission is ready then it will be sent to the SEC for consideration and thereafter the SEC will announce the election schedule,” he added.It is pertinent to note that the triple test has been mandated by the apex court for reservation of wards for OBCs for the local body elections.“As per the state Advocate General’s opinion, the government will seek time from the SEC for asking the OBC Commission to prepare a report, based on which reservation of wards can be done for the panchayat elections in accordance with Supreme Court directions,” the Chief Minister added.“The related file will be sent to SEC tomorrow,” Sawant said.In a related development, Goa State Commission for Backward Classes chairman Manohar Adpaikar expressed his readiness to undertake the triple test exercise.“We are ready. But we need the required manpower to conduct a survey. Government should allow us to rope in its employees. With their assistance, we can complete the task keeping the last survey as base, provided it is accepted by the concerned authorities,” Adpaikar said.He said that if need arises then the government can consider engaging an agency to conduct a totally fresh survey across the state.“Agencies have experience and all machinery with them. They are familiar with conducting big surveys in quick time,” Adpaikar said.He informed that the last survey was conducted in December 2013, where it was found that 26.26% of the state’s population belonged to the OBC category.

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Times of India | 23 hours ago | 20-05-2022 | 01:19 am

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