Goemkarponn desk
VASCO: Strict action to be initiated against those involved in extorting money or asking for an affidavit from the people to allot temporary house numbers to the residential structure in villages from Goa, says Minister for Panchayat Mauvin Godinho.
As per the newly amended Panchayati Raj Act, a circular that was issued to assess tax on the unauthorised structures, buildings, and houses built without obtaining necessary permissions from the competent authorities in the panchayat area is to be given temporary house numbers.
But according to some reliable sources, some village panchayat secretaries are allegedly involved in forcing the temporary house number applicants to give an “affidavit” on 100 rupees or 500 rupees stamp papers to get a temporary house number which has not been asked in the circular.
On the condition of anonymity, a village panchayat secretary from Mormugao taluka said that as per the circular about the temporary house number, only the one and fourteen forms, survey plan, and the photograph of the erected structure are required.
“There is no mention of affidavit document in that order as these are temporary house numbers”, he added.
When contacted, Mauvin Godinho, Minister for Panchayat, questioned him about village panchayat secretaries asking for affidavits from applicants to allot temporary house numbers.
Godinho said, “I have heard about such incidences wherein village panchayat secretaries ask for affidavits when they are not supposed to do that and trouble the citizens unnecessarily”.
Godinho further said that he has learnt that some people are also involved in making money to allot temporary house numbers. “I won’t tolerate such things, and soon I will meet the Block Development Officers and other concerned officials and streamline everything so that people should not feel any inconvenience”, he added.
