Team Herald
MARGAO: Criticising the government for the unjustified steep hike in land rates notified for assessment of stamp duty during the purchase of land in Tiswadi, Salcete and Mormugao, Goa Pradesh Congress Party (GPCC) charged that this notification was a direct attempt to keep Goans away from purchasing land and demanded the immediate rollback/de-notification of the new rates.
South Goa Congress president Savio D’Silva charged that the government is making it more convenient for outsiders to purchase land in Goa, and that’s how the non-Goan builder lobby is taking over Goan land and destroying Goa.
GPCC’s Moreno Rebello said there are many areas where the poor people couldn’t afford to pay stamp duty at old rates even when land was given free to them by landlords. They stand doomed with the present hike he added.
Another member Savio Coutinho warned the government that if it fails to de-notify the rates within 15 days, then people would protest on the streets.
The Congress called upon all Goans to rise up and oppose the government’s move.
“The government through this notification is only testing public reaction by making these monstrous rates applicable only to three talukas of Tiswadi, Salcete and Mormugao. But soon fresh notifications will come up, making similar rates applicable to other talukas as well,” Coutinho cautioned.
He explained that this huge hike in rates doesn’t limit the burden only with respect to the basic rate of stamp duty, but with the substantial increase in the land value, the stamp duty rate applicable gets pushed to a higher rate from 3% to 4.5%.
And considering the other outgoings in the form of registration fees, land conversion fees, construction licence/cess, infrastructure fees, etc, a person planning to build a house has to spend Rs 10-12 lakh well in advance.