Goa Cabinet Greenlights Bills to Regularize Unauthorized Constructions
The Goa state cabinet took a significant step on Tuesday by granting its approval to two crucial amendment bills. These are the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the City of Panaji Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The primary objective of these bills is to regularize unauthorized houses under the state's Majhe Ghar scheme.
Bills Headed for Winter Session
The approved bills are now set to be introduced in the upcoming winter session of the Goa legislative assembly. This move aims to provide a legal framework for addressing long-standing issues related to unauthorized constructions in the state.
Amending Key Sections for Regularization
The cabinet's approval focuses on amending specific sections of existing municipal laws. The Goa Municipalities Act, 1968, which consolidates laws relating to municipalities in Goa, contains Section 184. This section regulates all building activities within municipal limits. It requires written notice and prior permission from the chief officer before any new construction, alteration, or reconstruction can proceed.
Section 184 also allows for the regularization of certain unauthorized constructions. These constructions must comply with building norms, and owners must pay prescribed fines. The amendment introduces a legal presumption. Any building appearing in official land records and the first promulgated survey plan under the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968, will now be deemed to have been constructed with the chief officer's due permission.
Changes to Panaji Corporation Act
The City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002, establishes the urban civic body responsible for Panaji's municipal administration. Section 256 of this act prohibits any person from constructing a building without obtaining prior written permission from the commissioner. The commissioner can grant permission either unconditionally or with specific conditions.
If a building is constructed without required permissions or violates conditions, the commissioner has the authority to issue a notice. This notice can direct the responsible person to stop construction, demolish, or alter the structure to comply with legal provisions. Violators face fines, and the commissioner can remove or demolish unauthorized constructions at the owner's cost.
The amendment bills clarify that a building reflected in the record of rights and the first promulgated survey plan under the Goa Land Revenue Code will be deemed constructed with all required permissions of the chief officer. This provision aims to streamline the regularization process under the Majhe Ghar scheme, offering relief to many homeowners.
