Goa extends Mhaje Ghar scheme till March 2027, clears ordinance route

Panaji: The state cabinet has approved a one-year extension of the Mhaje Ghar scheme and cleared promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968, and the Communidade Code.

The ordinance has been necessitated as the Legislative Assembly is not in session, allowing the government to give immediate legal effect to the extension. The amendments aim to ensure continuity of the scheme and address procedural hurdles faced by applicants.

“In order to give relief to the people, the government has decided to extend the scheme until March 2027. The cabinet has granted approval for promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968, and the Communidade Code for the purpose,” said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The earlier deadline for filing applications was March 2026.

With this decision, people will be able to file applications under the scheme for regularising houses on government and communidade land until March 2027.

The move is expected to benefit applicants who were unable to complete formalities within the earlier deadline, providing an additional window to seek regularisation of dwelling houses built on government and communidade land.

The Mhaje Ghar scheme was launched in October 2025 by Home Minister Amit Shah and applies to unauthorised residential structures built prior to February 28, 2014, subject to specified conditions. While the government said the extension will help streamline pending applications and widen the scheme’s reach, the decision is also significant as the state is expected to go for legislative assembly elections before March 2027.

Relief for 544 New Vaddem families as Cabinet waives municipal dues

Panaji: The state cabinet has approved the waiver of occupancy fees owed to the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) by 544 Housing Board tenements at New Vaddem in the Dabolim constituency.

The tenements will receive plot allocation certificates upon payment to the Goa Housing Board. The decision forms part of the proposed regularisation of houses built on Goa Housing Board land under the Mhaje Ghar Scheme.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that while the municipal dues have been waived, occupants will be required to pay the prescribed fees to the Goa Housing Board for regularisation of their plots.

Earlier this month, the government had taken a similar decision for 48 Housing Board tenements at Zuarinagar in Sancoale.