from daijiworld's special correspondent
Panaji, Jun 17: While the movement against foreigners buying properties in Goa is gaining momentum in the tourist state, Goa government told the state legislative assembly on Monday that foreigners in Goa's different talukas have purchased around 482 properties.
Summed up together, the entire properties works out to 12 lac square metres, in this tiny state.
The locals are up in arms against foreigners buying properties in the state, mostly illegally. Marking a protest, locals of Morjim village in North Goa, tilled the land purchased by foreigners. The activists asked the tenants to till the land and sow the seeds.
The coastal tourist state has always been a haven for tourists, who have now begun settling here. The data furnished in the state legislative assembly reveals that coastal Bardez and Salcette taluka, besides Panaji city, are the "most sought after" places to purchase properties for these foreigners.
Goa's chief minister Pratapsingh Rane, who is also holding revenue portfolio, in a written reply to the state legislative assembly on Monday, stated that except Bicholim, Sattari, Ponda and Quepem taluka, foreigners have purchased properties.
Quoting data available with the state registration department, the chief minister has mentioned that maximum cases are in coastal Bardez taluka (351) and Salcette (37). "Panaji area has 75 properties being purchased by foreign nationals."
Rane has said as far as permission from home ministry, finance ministry, foreign affairs ministry or Reserve Bank of India or any other appropriate authority is concerned, it is not applicable to the registration department.
"Necessary action as per law would be initiated on the detected violations and process is under way to detect them," the chief minister has said.
As per information tabled on the floor of the house, Swiss, Dutch, British, German, Irish, Australian, German, Portuguese, Singaporean, Russian, Italian and Spanish nationals have purchased properties in the state.