Goa government circular soon to issue numbers to illegal houses

PANAJI: Panchayats minister Mauvin Godinho said that the government would soon issue a circular to start the process of granting house numbers to illegal houses.

On Monday, Godinho held a meeting with officials of the directorate of panchayats to discuss the procedure to issue house numbers to illegal houses to collect house tax. He also said that a block development officer will monitor the process of issuing house numbers to people to avoid misuse. Godinho had said that around 60% of houses in Goa do not have house numbers.

In July, the Goa legislative assembly had passed the Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which would enable persons living in panchayat areas to construct houses by demolishing their old structures with only the panchayat’s permission, and obtain house numbers for illegal structures.

The bill then got the governor’s assent and became an act.

The bill also sought to amend Section 7 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act to hold the election procedure in a free and fair manner by handing over the election process, including reservations, to the Goa state election commission as mandated under the 73rd constitutional amendment.