PANAJI: In a significant move to legalize homes under threat of demolition, the state government issued two circulars on Friday. One was from the revenue department, while the other came from the directorate of panchayat, aimed at legalizing over 100,000 illegal houses constructed on any land before 1972.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant clarified that these circulars don’t confer land ownership rights, but instead legitimize the structures and clarify the land status. “We are legalizing homes. The revenue department will issue a sanad, and the panchayat will confirm its legal status,” he stated.
Sawant emphasized that with these circulars, there is no need for legislative bills in the assembly. Just moments prior to the press conference, both he and Revenue Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate announced on the floor of the House that they would be introducing a bill to regularize the homes.
To resolve confusion regarding illegal structures in villages, the government has released these two circulars. If a house is included in the survey plan yet lacks documentation, the owner must apply for the sanad with the deputy collector.
He added that once the sanad is obtained from the deputy collector as per this circular, it can also be utilized by homeowners planning to construct new houses.
The circular states that the Goa Land Revenue Code of 1968 exempts all lands (survey holdings) located in settlement zones—according to the Regional Plan/Outline Development Plan—from certain provisions. This exemption applies if the survey records show an existing structure on the land, the total area doesn’t exceed 1,000sqm, and the structure occupies at least 25% of the plot.
However, the government discovered that many structures already recorded in the rights (Form I and XIV) and in survey plans from 1970 to 1972 were being compelled to secure a new conversion sanad before reconstruction.
“This has resulted in confusion and inconsistent interpretations of the conversion provisions under the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968,” the government noted.
