Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today defended the mandatory 30-year residency requirement for applying for plots under the Goa Housing Board (GHB), affirming the government’s commitment to ensuring that housing benefits reach genuine locals.
The statement follows demands from BJP MLAs Ulhas Tuvekar and Premendra Shet, who called for scrapping the auction process used in GHB plot allotments. The MLAs argued that the auction system favors wealthy bidders, shutting out the common man from affordable housing opportunities. They urged the government to amend existing policies to make allotments more equitable.
Addressing these concerns in the Assembly, CM Sawant acknowledged the challenges of the current auction system. “Under auction, the common man is not in a position to get the benefit; plots are going to rich people. The act or policy needs to be amended to correct this,” he said. However, he maintained that the 30-year residency criterion is essential to prioritize local Goans.
In a bid to expand affordable housing, the Chief Minister announced plans to construct new GHB houses in Pernem and revealed that the government is conducting a re-survey to identify homes eligible for support under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). “So far, we have constructed 240 houses in rural areas,” he said. “Additionally, those building houses independently or purchasing flats receive Rs 2.5 lakh under the scheme.”
CM Sawant’s assurances come amid growing demands for housing reforms that balance the rights of locals with the need to provide affordable homes to Goa’s residents, especially the economically weaker sections.
