PANAJI
In yet another major decision, the State Cabinet on Wednesday accorded approval to regularise the houses constructed on the land allotted by the government as part of the 20-point programme. Under the programme, total of 5,179 plots have been allotted across the State.
The State Cabinet that met under Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also decided to empower District Collector to revert back the allotted land to the government in case the beneficiary has failed to provide one-time regularisation benefit to the third party occupants on payment of the penalty.
According to the Cabinet note, under the programme, plots were allotted to underprivileged individuals for residential purposes as Occupants Class II in accordance with the provisions of Section 21 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968. “However, since the status of Occupant Class II does not confer ownership, the allottees remain without title and the ownership of the land continues to vest with the government, thereby limiting their legal and developmental rights over the plot,” the Cabinet note stated.
The government has classified the beneficiaries under three categories.
Under Category A, the government will consider granting Class I occupancy status, upon payment of premium of 1/20th of the fair market value, to those who have constructed the dwelling houses on the allotted plots and are residing there with their families of their legal heirs.
The Category B, comprises those allottees who have failed to construct any residential dwelling house within the stipulated time and plot remains vacant, the government will consider reverting all such plots and direct District Collector to identify these vacant plots and issue reversion orders and take possession accordingly.
The Category C comprises of those where the original allottees have unauthorisedly transferred the plots to third parties who are now in possession and have constructed houses for residential use. Here the government will consider regularising such unauthorised occupation as a one-time compassionate measure.
In this case, the government will grant them either Occupant Class II or Class I status provided that such unauthorised possession of the plot has been obtained prior to February 28, 2014. The government will also impose premium and penalty to such occupants.
The District Collectors are empowered to issue Sanads to all such occupants after verifying the required documents.
“One of the primary reasons necessitating this policy is the hardship caused to the beneficiaries in carrying out renovations, obtaining permissions from multiple government departments, obtaining bank loans. Being Occupant Class II, their requests for approvals or services remained rejected or delayed,” the Cabinet note stated.
The State government has already introduced Bills in the ongoing Assembly session to regularise the unauthorised houses constructed on the government and comunidade land before February 28, 2014.
