Funds for constructing houses may be enhanced in Goa

PORVORIM: Social welfare minister Subhash Phal Dessai on Tuesday said the state government will look into enhancing the amount under the Atal Asra Yojana, financial assistance for constructing a new house.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that the government will make all efforts to make the scheme available and to ensure that the budget allocation is increased.

“We will come up with a solution with regards to obtaining the zoning certificate from the town and country planning department to avail of the scheme. The state government will exempt the need for a zoning certificate for legal houses,” he added.

Phal Dessai said that the budgetary allocation for the scheme is Rs 1 crore and that the department has received 969 applications.

“As 71 applications have been cleared and 900 applications are still pending, we will seek an additional amount under supplementary demand to clear the pendency,” he said.

Mayem MLA Premendra Shet in his calling attention motion asked if the government intends to increase the existing assistance under the scheme, stating that presently the maximum assistance for the construction of new houses is Rs 3 lakhs and for the repair of existing houses is up to Rs 1.5 lakh.

He also said that the process to avail of the scheme is very lengthy and requires lots of documentation, and asked if the government intends to simplify the process. “The need for documents should be exempted,” said Shet.

Leader of opposition Yuri Alemao said that block development officers should be given powers to simplify the process.

Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that Rs 20 crore has been allotted for this scheme, but only Rs 11 crore has been spent.