Goa has seen unprecedented usage of land for concretisation, disproportionate to its actual needs. The greying of Goa has led to rampant conversion of agricultural and orchard land which was not required taking into account the size of Goa and its population which in the past 15 years has grown considerably.
Several rich Indians have bought second, third, fourth and even fifth houses, mansions, flats and shops in Goa.
This should not have been allowed in the first place. A ceiling on one person having in his or her name more than say two purchases should have been imposed.
However this unplanned so called growth of real estate has blighted Goa and drastically reduced its green cover.
In the light of this rampant asymmetrical distribution of land and properties, it would be suggested that all the municipalities and the village panchayats levy higher house tax amounting to two times, three times, four times and even as much as five times in that order for houses owned by any one single person so as to discourage people from accumulating immovable properties and thus contain the unnecessary use of land which is fast turning into a sparse commodity.
The government must also link PAN and Aadhaar cards of these purchasers so as to check unrestricted hoarding of houses in the State. Such an imposition of house tax is long overdue.
Elvidio Miranda, via email
