Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho has announced steps to streamline house tax collection across the State, directing panchayats to ensure proper recovery and warning that no certificates will be issued unless all tax dues are cleared.
Responding to concerns raised by MLA Venzy Viegas during the ongoing Assembly session, Godinho said many panchayats have failed to collect house tax “for ages” and that the system needs urgent reform. “Rates of house tax and the procedure for collection will be standardised. We are digitising all panchayat records. Anyone not paying house tax will be denied official certificates,” he warned.
Viegas highlighted anomalies in tax rates, where rental and commercial premises were paying more than residential homes. In response, Godinho clarified that house tax is under the purview of local panchayats but added that oversight and reforms are underway.
On a separate issue, the Minister acknowledged the staff shortage in the South Goa Zilla Panchayat and said the government will create vacancies and fill them promptly. “Wherever excess staff exists, we will redeploy them appropriately,” he added.
He also addressed the delay in the proposed Zilla Bhavan for South Goa. “We have not been able to identify land yet. Once that is done, work will begin immediately. We aim to have a Zilla Bhavan each for North and South Goa,” said Godinho.
