After dna reported about the delay in setting up the Housing Regulatory Authority (HRA), the state government swung into action and starting pushing for setting up the search and scrutiny committee to appoint its chairman and members.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said they are committed to formulate the HRA in state. "Under the observation of the state chief secretary JS Saharia, the chairman and members of HRA will be selected and, subsequently, appointed. Formation of HRA is on and the matter is being dealt with with the state law and justice department now. It will publish the guidelines for HRA and invite the suggestions and objections," said Chavan. Even the HRA website is under construction.
However, Chavan did not clarify whether the HRA will be formulated before the state assembly election. It is feared that this important decision may get stuck due the election code of conduct. The state polls are scheduled in October and the election code of conduct may be imposed in August.
The Maharashtra Housing (Regulation and Development) Bill 2012 was passed by the legislature almost a year ago and it received presidential assent almost four months back.
"We had prepared the rules and regulations for Maharashtra Housing (Regulation and Development) Act 2012 and submitted to the state law and justice department for its approval. We are waiting for its response and, once we get it, we will publish it in the newspaper by inviting suggestions and objections. Unless and until the chief minister personally intervenes, the matter will not go forward," said senior official from the state housing department.
State government-appointed search committee will select the chairman and members for HRA. "We have already located the HRA office at the Slum Rehabilitation Authority building in Bandra (East). The qualification for chairman and its members is that they should have experience in urban development, housing and development planning departments. An understanding of these departments will help the board deal with all the complex and technical issues of real estate and give justice to victims and initiate action against errant developers," said an official from the state housing department.
About the Act
The Housing Regulatory Act aims to regulate and promote construction, sale, management and transfer of flats on ownership basis. The Act will empower flat owners and will be a game-changer in regulating the housing sector. As per the Act, it will be mandatory for developers to register their projects with the government website and display all details. The promoter will have to pay fees not exceeding Rs50,000 along with the application for registration. If developers delay the project, they will be penalised Rs10 lakh and sentenced to maximum three years in prison. It will bring transparency and curb malpractice in the real estate sector. It will also help curb speculative activity in the sector and contribute towards keeping prices in check.
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