As many as 924 construction projects across the State are likely to be blacklisted by the government under the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) provisions as they have failed to respond to notices.
According to Urban Development and Housing Minister U.T. Khader, these projects were identified for not having registered under RERA and were issued notice. “Since they did not respond, we will blacklist them,” he told presspersons.
In all, 1,626 notices had been issued to developers/project heads for allegedly flouting RERA norms after they came into existence in Karnataka. According to the Minister, in 604 cases the developers gave satisfactory responses and some projects have even been completed.
He said officials were checking brochures and paper advertisements to keep an eye on more projects not complying with the RERA norms. The urban local bodies have been asked to list out projects as soon as plan approvals are given, he added. So far, Mr. Khader said, 572 complaints have been received on violation of RERA provisions and 221 have been adjudicated. “On an average, complaints are being disposed of in about two months time,” he added.
The Minister also said that developers have requested to modify the rule that makes it mandatory for them to register with RERA within three months of securing plan sanction. “They have sought changes since many may not launch the project within three months if the conditions in the market are not good. They have sought changes to enable registration with RERA when they start marketing.”
Appeal to Rahul
Meanwhile, the Forum for People’s Collective Efforts has urged Congress president Rahul Gandhi to advise the JD(S)-Congress coalition government in the State to review the RERA rules and make amendments so that they are in line with the draft RERA rules notified by the Centre. At present, the forum says, home buyers in Karnataka are not in a position to enjoy the complete benefits of the RERA Act.
The collective has said there is a need to appoint a permanent real estate authority and permanent appellate tribunal while constituting a conciliation committee on the lines of the one in Maharashtra. It also wants equal representation for all stakeholders, including RWAs, activists, builders, agents, NGOs, legal experts, and mediapersons.
The collective has also sought Mr. Gandhi’s intervention to hasten the investigation into Dreamz Infra India Ltd., which allegedly cheated over 10,000 potential home buyers.
