Team Goemkarponn

PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that application forms under the Mhaje Ghar Yojana will be available from September 15, describing it as a “special Chavath gift” to the people of Goa.

The scheme, aimed at granting long-pending legal and financial security to families whose houses lack valid ownership papers, will regularise homes built before 1972 without certificates. “Even three generations after liberation, many Goan families still don’t have legal documents. There was always fear of demolition and uncertainty of court cases. This scheme will end that,” Sawant said

Under the scheme, Village Panchayats and Municipalities will be required to issue legality certificates within seven days for a fee of ₹1,000. Shops constructed prior to 1972 will also be covered. For houses built before February 28, 2014, ownership rights will be granted under Section 38A of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968. The benefit will extend to revenue land, alvara, mokaso, lease areas, government property and comunidade land, for plots up to 400 sq mts along with a two-metre surrounding.

The Chief Minister clarified that while old houses would be legalised, fresh land grabbing and illegal constructions would not be permitted. Police, Panchayat Secretaries, Talathis and Mamlatdars will be empowered to curb violations, impose fines, and act even against encroachments on private land.

Sawant said nearly 95% of Goans are expected to benefit, with 450 families set to receive ownership rights in the first phase. Certificates under the scheme would enable families to avail full benefits of ownership.

He also pointed to the amended Goa Regularisation of Unauthorised Construction Bill, 2025, noting that 28,000 people had applied for regularisation, of which 10,000 houses have already been legalised. Further, nearly 6,000 families allotted plots under the 20-Point Programme, who were denied Class I occupancy certificates, will now be issued the same.