Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday made a startling revelation that some Communidades are allegedly demanding ₹2 lakh from homeowners wishing to construct a slab on their existing houses — without providing receipts.
Calling it “harassment,” he warned that the government will act firmly against such illegal practices.
“Some people have met me with complaints that certain Communidades are demanding ₹2 lakh if someone wants to construct a slab on an already built house. They also claim that no receipt is provided for the payment. Such forms of harassment are happening by Communidades,” Sawant said.
In a hard-hitting message, the Chief Minister also announced that no illegal construction will be tolerated on Communidade or government land.
“To enforce this, police, secretaries, talathis, mamlatdars and deputy collectors will be empowered to halt unauthorised works and levy heavy fines on violators,” he addeed
Alongside the crackdown, Sawant urged Goans to make use of the government’s regularisation scheme for pre-1972 houses, effective from August 1.
He said that application forms will be available in September, with a nominal fee of ₹1,000 and a promise that certificates will be issued within a week of verification.
The initiative is backed by the forthcoming Regularisation of Unauthorised Construction Bill, which will settle long-pending disputes over irregular dwellings and treat eligible houses as “settled land,” removing the need for conversion sanads during reconstruction.
