Panaji: GFP urged Goa governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju to withhold assent and return two bills — the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2026 and the Goa Ease of Doing Business (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2026 — back to the legislative assembly for reconsideration.The two bills, which were passed on Sep 2, are riddled with drafting errors and have been passed without proper deliberation, said the party president Vijai Sardesai.He said that the Ease of Doing Business Bill must establish transparent statutory safeguards for freehold conversion, valuation, continued industrial use and prevention of speculative diversion of industrial land while the land acquisition amendment must retain meaningful social impact assessment, public participation, independent scrutiny and safeguards for affected landowners.The GFP delegation that met Raju said that they were concerned by the manner in which eight bills were tabled and passed by the assembly on a single day. “Such compressed legislative consideration leaves little meaningful opportunity for legislators, stakeholders and the public to examine the nuances of each bill, its long-term consequences and its impact on Goa and Goans,” said Sardesai.GFP told Raju that the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill raises serious concerns because it permits govt to exempt specified projects from important safeguards, such as the social impact assessment and protections concerning irrigated multi-cropped land. Sardesai said that the bill may also enable acquisition for industrial corridors extending up to 1km on either side of designated roads or railway lines.“ It is our concern that the bill falls foul of the detailed tests laid out in the judgement, and therefore requires reconsideration by the legislature before assent.,” said Sardesai.
