PANAJI
The State government will soon roll out its ambitious Chief Minister’s Housing Scheme to provide accommodation to eligible Niz Goenkars by utilising vacant flats of the Goa Housing Board (GHB), Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed the House on Wednesday. “The scheme will be launched soon and applications would also be accepted. The scheme aims to provide housing to Niz Goenkar,” Sawant said.
He said the first phase of the scheme would utilise vacant flats currently available with the Goa Housing Board. The government is in the process of finalising the eligibility criteria for beneficiaries.
As reported by The Goan earlier, the scheme is likely to provide eligible Goans with flats on lease rather than outright ownership. Under the proposed model, beneficiaries who subsequently acquire a house of their own would be required to vacate the government-provided accommodation, allowing it to be allotted to another eligible applicant.
The Revenue Department has also been directed to identify vacant government land across all talukas for construction of new housing complexes. These projects will form the second phase of the scheme.
The eligibility conditions are expected to be stringent, with applicants likely required to furnish proof of at least 30 years of residence in Goa. The government also intends to ensure that the benefit reaches Goans who genuinely do not own a house.
The GHB currently has around 50 to 100 vacant flats spread across various talukas, including Bardez, Ponda, Tiswadi, Canacona, Cuncolim, Mormugao and Salcete.
