The government makes confusing statements on the issue. At one time, the CM says that structures will have to have a clear land title to qualify for regularization. At another time he says that structures built on others property will be considered if they have NOC from the owners. The people need an explanation from the government how it is going to deal with the following illegal cases:
1. Houses built on own land: (a) If a family has built 2 or more illegal houses, and there are many such cases, will all of them be regularized? (b) Some houses are modern with RCC structure. The owners could well afford to get all clearances. Will such house also be regularized?
2. Houses built on government land: Will the government recover the cost of the land occupied by the usurpers? If so, at what rate? If the houses are regularized but the land is not transferred to them on payment, they will still be encroachers on government land.
3. Houses built on private land owned by others: The government says that NOC from the owners will be considered for regularizing the illegal houses. NOC does not constitute title to the land. How will the Sub-registrar registers the conveyance or for that matter the Mamlatdar carries out the mutation without a proper deed of conveyance?
4. In general: (a) Will the houses which are built in the fields and orchards be regularized? (b) Will the structures which are built for commercial or business purpose or those which have been rented out also be regularized? (c) Will the houses that have not maintained the required setbacks and FAR be considered? (d) Will all the government fees and charges such as conversion, licence, infrastructure, etc. be recovered? (e) The cutoff date for regularization is fixed as 28 Feb, 14. Will the illegal houses built after 28 Feb, 14 be pulled down?
The people should be explained the full details of the plan to regularize the illegal houses. More than anything, they should be informed what steps are being taken by the government and the local bodies to stop illegal houses that are being continuously built in Goa with ease and in open defiance of the government rules and regulations.