DoP issues circular; Applicants do not need p’yat meeting approval; Sawant says move to assist common man
PANAJI
In a big move, the State government has instructed panchayat secretaries across the State to issue 'house repair' permissions for single-dwelling structures within three days of being applied for.
The instruction was contained in an elaborate circular issued by Director of Panchayats Ms Siddhi Halarnkar and announced by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at a cabinet press briefing on Wednesday afternoon.
The circular also contains a 'deeming provision' which says that the permission shall be deemed to have been granted if the panchayat secretary fails to determine whether it should be given or communicate the decision to the applicant within three days of the application.
Sawant meanwhile said, the panchayat secretaries will be the authority to issue these NOCs for house repairs provided that the structure is legal or has been in existence and registered for "house tax" purpose for a minimum of five years.
The applicants will also have to submit an architect or engineer certified structural stability report and evidence of the five-year House Tax condition compliance, he added.
The chief minister also said with Wednesday's circular, there will be no requirement for such applications to be put before the panchayat body's meeting for approval.
"This applies strictly to existing single-dwelling houses built on existing plinths," Sawant said.
The chief minister said this decision will be of much help to the common man who used to struggle endlessly to get permissions for carrying out any repairs, sometimes even living in their homes with the looming danger of a wall or roof collapse disaster.
