MARGAO
The government’s notification revising the base land rates for stamp duty has evoked strong opposition from Saxttikars. Be it lawyers, politicians, or the common man, they all slammed the hike in the base land rates to as high as 300 per cent at one go, terming it as unjustified, arbitrary, tailor-made for the Delhi real estate mafia, and an attempt to facilitate Delhites moving down South Goa with the government’s support.
Common Saxttikars fear that the massive hike in the base land rates will further push real estate rates to a new high, making affordable housing costly and beyond the reach of the lower middle class. Fears are further raised that the real estate developers will transfer the burden of the increase in stamp duties to the customers.
What seems to have left the stakeholders agitated is the hike in the base rate manifold instead of rationalising the stamp duty structure. Senior High Court advocate, Adv Cleofato Coutinho, was categorical in saying the new rates may create problems for small holdings transfer as the lower middle class is reeling under economic pressure. “In the recent past, transactions were not registered due to the higher stamp duty. We may go back to the old times of unregistered agreements,” he said.
He added: “Builders and real estate people transfer the burden onto purchasers. The government is not fair to the common man.”
Another city-based lawyer, Adv Radharao Gracias, echoed similar sentiments. “The existing land rate in the coastal village Majorda is around Rs 3714. The base land rate has now gone up to a massive Rs 12000, a hike of around 300 per cent,” he said. “No doubt, the government is empowered to fix the base price of land. But the citizens have the right to know the rationale adopted by the government to effect this massive hike.”
Radharao expressed fears that the hike will further increase the rate of flats and apartments so much that housing would be beyond the reach of ordinary Goans.
Goa Forward Party Chief Vijai Sardesai has termed the development as a scam to capture South Goa for the Delhi real estate lobby. “People from South Goa are very clear they are opposed to the second home culture of people from Delhi. There’s no logic behind the hike in land rates. It is clear that the notification is tailor-made to facilitate Delhiites coming and settling down in South,” he said. “The government says the hike will help generate revenue, but would it benefit the people when it would make housing costly for the common man?”
The South Goa Lawyers’ body, the South Goa Advocates Association (SGAA), too has joined the chorus of opposition to the hike in base land rates. The SGAA has called for the immediate revocation of the notification, calling the hike arbitrary and unjust, and effected without any public consultation or opportunity for objection, impacting property owners and prospective buyers alike. "On what grounds was this monumental rate hike decided? The process appears to lack accountability," questioned SGAA President Adv Prasad Naik.
