PORVORIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced in the assembly on Wednesday that the government will soon introduce legislation to prevent further illegal house constructions. He stated that the state would reopen applications under the current act, allowing locals to legalize their homes built on their own land.
In light of a high court ruling on illegal constructions, Sawant emphasized that local authorities have been instructed to take action solely against buildings on land designated for national highways, state highways, or major district roads. He clarified that the court’s ruling on illegal structures pertains only to those specific cases.
The Chief Minister also noted that the government had previously initiated the process of issuing Enabling House Numbers (EHN) for existing structures that lacked them, simplifying garbage collection and house tax regulations for local panchayats.
“We will be reopening the application process, allowing those who received EHNs to legalize their homes,” Sawant added.
Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho reported that more than 33,000 houses have been assigned EHNs, with an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 still without any identification.
He encouraged homeowners in this category to apply for EHNs, as these numbers assist panchayats in providing essential services, such as drainage systems and road access. “People worry that if they register now, their homes will only be recognized from the date EHNs were issued,” Godinho explained. “The legalization process is entirely separate. Many houses were built on their owners’ land 30 to 40 years ago, before relevant laws were enacted.”
He also mentioned that in some instances, the court has mandated the demolition of homes lacking house numbers, with EHNs being issued for such properties.
Mayem MLA Premendra Shet drew attention to a circular from the finance department that removes specific benefits associated with EHNs. Godinho assured that he would seek a relaxation of the circular to maintain the advantages of EHNs.
