Call for affordable housing grows stronger across parties

Porvorim: Opposition and ruling parties on Monday raised concerns as state govt failed to provide affordable housing to the Goan population. Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that govt is in the process of finalising land in the Pernem taluka for affordable housing.

Sawant said that as per the survey conducted in 2011, few people were eligible for PM Awas Yojana, and govt will conduct a new survey under which more people will be eligible for the scheme. Under PM Awas Yojana, four crore affordable houses were provided to the citizens of India.

Navelim MLA Ulhas Tuenkar said that the housing board is providing plots and flats to Goans at market prices, and that is the reason non-Goans are buying those plots and flats. Tuenkar demanded that govt scrap the auction policy and allot plots and flats on a first-come, first-served basis.

Housing minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhawalikar said that as per the policy, govt auctions housing plots and flats on two occasions, and if there are no buyers, govt can check whether they can be allotted in other ways.

Tuenkar mentioned that previously the Goa Housing Board used to provide loans to the allottees as they were not in a position to buy the plots of land by getting loans from the bank, and the same should be introduced again.

Opposition leader Yuri Alemao said that the chief minister, in his budget speech, announced a comprehensive housing policy to provide affordable housing for Goans, but to date, it has not materialised.

Mayem MLA Premendra Shet said there is a need to amend the existing laws so that only Goans are eligible for affordable housing, as it has been observed that non-Goans are benefiting.