BJP will regularise houses built on community and govt land if re-elected: Manohar Parrikar

PANAJI: Ruling BJP in Goa today assured to legalise those houses which are built on community and government land by forming a proper law if voted back to power, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said today.

"There are few things which are left incomplete. We wanted to legalise the houses. We have legalised those houses, which are on their own lands. But we came to know that there are many houses which are on communidable (community) or government lands," Parrikar said while addressing the BJP's public meeting in Vasco.

He said they will abide by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on availability of houses for all in next five years.

"He (PM) has said 'housing for all by 2022'. Tenure of Goa government that would be formed in year 2017 will end in 2022. We will implement the announcement of Modiji in next five years. Those houses which are on communidade and government land would be regularised by forming a proper law," the former Chief Minister said.

Goa is going to polls on February 4.

Parrikar said the BJP will eradicate unemployment from the state in next five years.

"In the next five years, you will have to search an unemployed youth in Goa. This is our assurance to the people," he said.

Recalling the party's 2012 electoral promise of generating 50,000 jobs in Goa, Parrikar said the BJP never forgets its commitment.

"There were financial problems after 2012 polls. Due to closure of mining, 25 per cent of our budget was slashed. The government used to get Rs 120 crore annually from the mining industry," he said.

The minister said "substantial employment" would be created through Defence Ministry's work order to Goa Shipyard Limited ( GSL) for building 'Mines Counter Measure Vessels'.