Goa for ban on sale of land to foreigners: Minister

Panaji, Mar 25 (UNI) The Goa government is keen to impose ban on sale of land to foreigners with authorities tracking 298 doubtful/questionable cases of land sales, law minister Dayanand Narvekar told the state assembly here today.

Replying to Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar and Francis D'Souza during Question Hour in the House, Mr Narvekar said he would come with all details, including the land deals by Non-Resident Indians.

The government had referred all these cases to the Directorate of Enforcement for adjudication and investigation of contravention of the Foreign Exchange Maintainance Act with immediate effect.

Narvekar said the government had detected about 267 cases of land purchased by foreigners and companies during the last three years.

The quantum of their share in the deal could not be determined as they were not mentioned in the sale deeds registered with the offices of the sub-registrars in Goa, he said.

The property details in respect of 54 cases had been compiled so far. The department had been toned up for speedier compilation of the details of all the cases, Narvekar added.

Meanwhile, the government had referred to the respective collectors 80 cases of undervaluation of properties with sale deeds above Rs 5 lakhs registered during the last three years, Narvekar said.

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