Homes on govt, comunidade land will be regularised after Sep 15: Sawant

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said state govt will begin regularising houses on govt and comunidade land after Sep 15, following which it will stop all illegal constructions that may be initiated anywhere in Goa.

Sawant also said that the state will give powers to the police and to revenue officers to stop illegal construction on both govt and comunidade land.Over 50,000 houses across Goa will be regularised shortly. This comes on the heels of three laws pertaining to the subject that were passed during the recently concluded monsoon assembly session.“We will not allow grabbing of govt and comunidade land. After we start the Majhe Ghar scheme from Sep 15, we will give powers to the police, mamlatdar, talathi, panchayat secretary, and deputy collectors to stop any illegal construction.

People can dial a number to inform the authorities about construction taken up without the permission of the relevant authorities,” Sawant said. “Any authority will show up and stop the construction in question, and will impose fines.

”The CM said govt will not allow any encroachment on govt and comunidade land in the future, even as he called for support towards govt’s decision to regularise houses that have already been constructed.

Sawant said application forms for regularisation of homes will soon be made available and that govt will collect licence fees, fines, and a 10% additional rate from applicants seeking the facility.Claiming that some sections have begun politicising govt’s move to regularise houses on comunidade land, the CM said the people of the state should give such detractors a fitting reply. He reiterated that whatever price comunidades demand for regularising homes on their lands will be given to them and assured that they would not lose revenue in the process.Sawant further said that shops and houses constructed before 1972 will be regularised and that shops along roadsides that have received demolition orders will be protected.