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Weigh to go before you buy your home

Metrology dept notice to developers for selling smaller flats Says builders have to verify measuring instruments

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If the state legal metrology department (that deals with weights and measurements) lives up to its words, harried home buyers will have a saviour to look up to.

The department says it can take action against errant developers on two counts.

First, developers and architects are legally-bound to verify the instruments they use for measuring apartments with the department. "This is not happening," Sanjay Pandey, head of the department, told dna on Monday.

"We have issued notices to a couple of developers in Mumbai for selling flats smaller in size than what is mentioned in the agreement," Pandey said.

Secondly, developers have to sell flats in square metre and not in square feet as is the practice.

"This is a violation of Sections 34 and 35 of the Metrology Act. Developers can be fined up to Rs 5,000 and imprisoned up to 3-5 years," Pandey said.

Sources say "these rules have been gathering dust and the department had not taken action against anyone so far".

But if what developers say is true, Pandey will not be able to do much.

"Our plans are approved by the respective municipal corporations and their engineers. So, there is no question of verification with the metrology department," says Vimal Shah, president of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI), the umbrella body of developers.

Shah says developers do not fall under the Metrology Act. Metrology department officials, however, are firm. "We have sent notices to builders. If they fail to reply, they will face action as subsequent offenders. We will take all flat-related issues subsequently. We are not going to spare anyone," said an official on the condition of anonymity.

Ramesh Prabhu, chairman of Maharashtra Society and Welfare Association (MSWA), who welcomed the move, said builders have even been reducing the ceiling heights of flats.

"These norms are good to check them. Besides tightening norms on measurement, the government should also force developers to tag a MRP on flats," he suggests.

"Developers sell flats at different prices. If they know the land and input costs, there should be some fixed price for the flat. That will bring in better transparency in the realty sector," Prabhu said.

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