Panaji: The Goa government told the House during the recently held Legislative Assembly session that Nuvem and Mandrem constituencies have received the highest number of applications under the Mhaje Ghar scheme for the regularisation of unauthorised constructions, even as official data showed that fears of large-scale regularisation of houses on Comunidade and government lands under the scheme are unfounded.
The Mhaje Ghar scheme was launched in October 2025 at the hands of Union Home Minister Amit Shah with the aim of granting legal ownership to Goans living in houses on government or community lands (communidades).
Responding to a question tabled by Independent MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye during the recently held Winter Session of the House, State Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserratte said that the scheme was launched with a view to providing legal recognition and security of tenure to occupants of such lands who have constructed dwelling houses. Considering the humanitarian need for the regularisation of genuine long-term occupants, the government enacted and framed various amendments, policies, and circulars, which together are commonly known as the Mhaje Ghar Yojana.
An analysis of the data provided by the minister on the floor of the House reveals that Nuvem (South Goa) and Mandrem (North Goa) Assembly constituencies top the list in the number of applications received under the Regularisation of Unauthorised Construction Act under the Mhaje Ghar scheme.
A total of 29 applications were received from each of these constituencies, followed by 23 applications from Pernem. The data further states that no applications were received from Ponda and Fatorda (both in South Goa), and Poriem and Valpoi (both in North Goa) Assembly constituencies under this category.
The scheme had evoked strong resentment from opposition parties, which claimed that the government was attempting to appease the migrant community by allowing the regularisation of houses on community-owned, that is, Comunidade lands. However, the data has proved otherwise.
The data attached to the written reply indicates that, to date, not a single application for the regularisation of houses on Comunidade land has been received from Mormugao, Salcette, and Ponda talukas (all in South Goa), while one application each was received from Porvorim constituency and two from Thivim Assembly constituency. In total, only four applications have been received.
Mormugao taluka has one of Goa’s biggest slum areas, which has sprung up on Comunidade land on the periphery of the Vasco port town.
In the category of ancestral houses built on government property, the data states that not a single application has been received for the regularisation of houses on government land from Bardez and Pernem (both in North Goa), and Salcette and Ponda (both in South Goa).
Not a single house from the Sankhalim constituency, represented by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, has applied under the scheme in this category, the data mentions.
Under the scheme, houses constructed before 1972 were eligible for regularisation.
As per data provided by the government in the Assembly, the maximum number of applications for the regularisation of houses built before 1972 under the Mhaje Ghar scheme were received from Mandrem (79), Pernem (58), and Sankhalim (22), while no application was received from the Mormugao constituency.
