The state can prevent its land from being sold to foreigners by notifying the state under Foreigners Rule, 1946, P V S Sardesai, former state registrar of Goa, told the ad hoc committee.
Constituted by the state legislative assembly, the committee, met under chairmanship of legislator Fransic de Souza and deliberated the issues related to law and FEMA violations in specific.
Sardesai, a former bureaucrat said in the meeting that the presence of Sea bird naval base neighbouring Goa, the Naval base at Vasco and other defence establishments are reasons enough to insist the Centre to notify Foreigners rule in Goa.
The Central government has powers to notify Goa as a protected state so that no foreigner can buy land there, he said.
The Goa government last year realised that its land masses were being purchased by foreign nationals violating FEMA.
Anupam Kishore committee constituted by the state to probe such cases had prima facie found 480 violations. They are being investigated by Directorate of Enforcement which has started issuing and hearing the cases.
