State completes 25% of land records update

Panaji: Despite initial opposition from the public in certain areas, state govt has been able to complete around 25% of the work to update land records and provide urban property cards (UrPro) to landowners.

There was apprehension that the survey was conducted to include some village areas that would be merged into municipal areas, and that govt would confiscate properties of which either the owners were staying abroad or there are no legal heirs.A senior official said that state govt has set a target to complete the survey by the end of Feb, but if the survey was not completed, additional time would be sought from govt.The Goa (National Geospatial Knowledge Based) Land Survey of Urban Habitations Rules, 2025 was notified in the state to commence the survey.“Wherever a survey of lands in any village, town, or city is directed to be made by govt under Section 56, the director, directorate of settlement and land records, shall cause to issue a general notice to the inhabitants of such village, town, or city, informing them about the survey of land therein and calling upon the house owners, mortgagees, residents, and also persons who are residing out of India and other persons having interest in the lands to be surveyed, to give all information to the survey officers appointed for the purpose and to ensure that their lands are measured and rights recorded correctly,” saud under-secretary (revenue-I), Vrushika Kauthankar.

“For the purposes of determining the right, title, and interest of individuals and bodies in respect of lands under survey, the inquiry officer shall hold an inquiry and consider suggestions/objections received,” said Kauthankar. “Thereafter, in accordance with the decision of the inquiry officer or, where an appeal is filed or a civil suit instituted, in accordance with the final order passed in appeal or civil suit, the draft UrPro shall be prepared.

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