PANAJI
The State government has notified the amendment to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, to empower the panchayats to seal any premises if business is carried out within its jurisdiction without a valid licence from the local body.
The amendment, which was passed in the monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly, also speaks about a simplified process of issuing repair permission to single dwelling units by giving power to the panchayat secretary to issue repair permission without placing it before a panchayat meeting.
The government has introduced a new section in the principal Act, as there is no provision to seal premises if any business is carried out without a valid licence from the panchayat.
“If any person, without obtaining a licence from the panchayat, carries on any trade or occupation in any premises within the panchayat jurisdiction, the panchayat shall, after giving an opportunity of being heard to such person, seal such premises,” the Act stated.
“Provided that if the application for a licence is already submitted to the panchayat, such premises shall not be sealed till such application is rejected on merit,” it added further.
As per new provision, the government has asked panchayats to reduce the time for the disposal of applications for construction licences from 30 days to 15 days, from 45 days to 15 days for occupancy certificates and for disposal of applications for trade licences from 15 days to 7 days.
The government has also notified the City of Panaji Corporation (Amendment) Act, 2025 that significantly reduces the time limit for the City Corporation Commissioner to grant or refuse sanction for building erection or re-erection from 60 days to 15 days.
Further, the Goa Tax on Infrastructure (Amendment) Act, 2025 is also notified. As per the amendment, the collection of the infrastructure tax/service charge will be done in two equal instalments: 50% upon receiving the technical clearance/development permission and the remaining 50% upon receiving the completion certificate.
