Goa government plans legislation to protect rights of residents affected by high court ruling on illegal houses

Panaji: A day after stating that a new legislation will be passed to protect the rights of people affected by the high court order on illegal houses, chief minister Pramod Sawant said a legal firm will be appointed to help the state draft the legislation.
Sawant chaired the first meeting of a high-powered committee to discuss the HC order pertaining to illegal constructions, on Thursday. The meeting was attended by revenue minister Atanasio Monserrate, environment minister Aleixo Sequeira, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte, and panchayats minister Mauvin Godinho. Department secretaries and the advocate general also attended the meeting.
Relief for unauthorised homes and structures on comunidade and mundkar lands was discussed too. “The issue of illegal homes on comunidade lands is being studied to determine if relief can be given under the regularisation Act. We will streamline it and provide relief to people,” Sawant said.
“For all this, whether you call it a policy decision or legislation, govt will find a solution. We will also appoint a legal firm to study this issue and see how legislation can be brought in to provide relief to these people,” he added.
The CM said all unauthorised roadside structures will get 15 days to shift. “We gave instructions to all that henceforth, no illegal structures will be allowed on roadsides, comunidade lands, or govt lands,” Sawant said. “They will be issued notices and will have to shift their establishments within 15 days. These are for roadside illegalities. These structures have to be beyond 15 metres from a road. We will take action.”
Monserrate, who described the meeting as preliminary, said most illegal structures were on PWD land.



Stay updated with the latest city news, Air Quality Index (AQI), and weather updates for major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Noida, and Bangalore on Times of India.