Special Correspondent
Panaji
The state government has notified that three new laws – the Goa Legislative Diploma, the Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2025, and the Goa Regularisation of Unauthorised Construction (Amendment) Act, 2025 – that will come into effect from October 4.
These laws provide a framework to regulate and streamline the process of regularising certain categories of unauthorised constructions across Goa.
The amendment to the Goa Legislative Diploma No 2070 allows for the regularisation of houses built on comunidade land. The Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Act, 2025 permits regularisation of homes on government land, while the Goa Regularisation of Unauthorised Construction (Amendment) Act, 2025 applies to houses built on private land.
Minimum land rates approved by the state cabinet earlier this week have also been notified. Houses existing prior to 1972 and reflected in survey records will be charged at a flat rate of Rs 25 per sqm, irrespective of circle rates. For houses constructed between 1973 and 1986, 50 per cent of the 2014 circle rate will apply.
Dwellings built between 1987 and 2000 will be charged at 75 per cent of the circle rate, while those constructed between 2001 and 2014 will attract the full circle rate. In cases of encroachment on comunidade land, a 20 per cent penalty on the total plot value will be imposed.
Meanwhile, the government has also notified other legislations. The Goa Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2025 aims to simplify and expedite the process of obtaining licences and permissions within panchayat jurisdictions, and empowers panchayats to seal premises operating without valid licences.
The City of Panaji Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2025 reduces the time limit for the Corporation Commissioner to grant or refuse sanction for building erection or re-erection from 60 days to 15 days.
The Goa Tax on Infrastructure (Amendment) Act, 2025 permits collection of infrastructure tax or service charge in two equal instalments – 50 per cent upon receiving technical clearance or development permission, and the remaining 50 per cent upon receiving the completion certificate.
