PANAJI
The Goa government has notified draft rules to amend the existing Goa Land Revenue (Disposal of Government Lands) Rules, 1971 moving a step closer towards granting ownership rights of land up to 300 square meters to occupants of illegal dwelling houses built before February 28, 2014 on government land across the State.
The draft rules notification was issued by the Revenue Department on Friday and published in the supplement of the Official Gazette.
It also invites suggestions and objections from the public within 15 days.
The draft rules require beneficiaries who wish to claim ownership of the plot of government land they have built their house on to pay a fee of Rs 100 and submit Form XXIII besides a residence certificate proving they have been residing in Goa for at least 15 years.
Another rule in the draft stipulates that the structure can only be for residential purpose and cannot be sold for 20 years. The rule however makes an exception for transfer only to a member of the immediate family.
Penal provisions in the draft rules provide for eviction and forfeiture besides fines of up to Rs one-lakh and imprisonment of up to two years in cases where declarations made turn out to be false.
The Pramod-Sawant led government had enacted an amendment to the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968, which inserted a section to regularise unauthorised dwelling houses built on government land prior to February 28, 2014.
It empowered Deputy Collectors to grant 'Class I' occupancy rights in respect of the piece of land on which dwelling houses were built virtually making them the legal owners of the land and the house on it.
The beneficiaries however will have to pay the government an amount equivalent to the value of the land as per a rate the government will specify in a circular.
Ownership of the land to the house occupant can be granted only up to 300 square meters or the plinth area of the structure and an additional two meters on all sides.
Any additional land encroached beyond 300 square meters will be forfeited back to the government, the LR Code amendment stipulates.
