Team Herald
VASCO: In a shocking announcement, Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho on Friday stated that the government will regularise as many as 545 houses at New Vaddem Housing Board Colony.
Speaking in the presence of Goa Housing Board Chairman and MLA Jit Arolkar and other officials, the Minister emphasised the government's commitment to providing secure housing for the residents, many of whom are workers of the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), who people say are mostly migrants.
Godinho further said that regularisation of these houses was a long-pending issue faced by the housing board colony residents. He said that he was working in tandem with Goa Housing Board officials to ensure that these houses are transferred into the names of their rightful owners. There are many challenges involved in the process, particularly the lack of a NOC from the MMC and the coordination between various govt agencies.
The Minister also made it clear that even if there they find some encroachments, the govt will try to transfer these houses and lands in the names of the residents. These people mostly municipal workers have lived in the Housing Board colony for more than 30 years without access to proper facilities.
“These municipal workers work tirelessly to keep the town clean and it is our duty to ensure they have a proper place to call home,” Godinho said, adding that the decision will bring significant relief to the residents.
Arolkar in his brief address, too stressed the importance of resolving the long-standing issue. He said, “When the Minister informed him about the situation, I realised that there are 545 houses that have not been transferred to the owners’ names yet. This issue should have been addressed long ago and I assure you that the Goa Housing Board will expedite the regularisation process to get their homes in their names at the earliest.”
Mormugao ward councillor Sudesh Bhosle extended his support to the government’s decision and said that it will improve the lives of the municipal workers and other residents, who will have a secure place in New Vaddem Colony.
“These houses were given to those belonging to economically weaker sections under affordable housing scheme. These houses are situated at two places -- near Santoshi Mata temple and near the Last Stop at New Vaddem. The regularisation of houses will ensure ownership rights to the residents,” Bhosle said.
Though the announcement brought solace to the occupants, Goans reacted strongly to Mauvin’s announcement accusing him of vote bank politics. Activist Anthony D’Silva said, “The Minister is a migrant. Majority of the occupants of Housing Board Colony are migrants. The Minister is preparing ground for his vote bank. Is Goa Housing Board chairman hand-in-glove with the Minister? The government had no concern for Goans who are struggling to get a house. We will not keep quiet.”
Activist Xencor Polgi said, “Many Goans are anxiously waiting for regularisation of their structures. I don’t know what example the Panchayat Minister is trying to set by regularising 545 houses in his Dabolim constituency. The same government had introduced controversial Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill without any application of mind. What the Minister is now doing is vote bank politics.
Activist Mariano Ferrao said, “The Panchayat Minister has no concern for Goans who are fighting to save their houses. The Minister should use his power to protect the houses of Goans and not of migrants.”