In a move that is sure to bring cheer to the real estate sector, Union Minister for Urban Development M. Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday asked Karnataka to recommend a single window clearance system for real estate projects. He was in the city for a review of Union government-sponsored schemes.
This has been a long-standing demand as currently, developers have to approach at least eight departments — ranging from the local town planning authority to the Revenue Department and utility companies.
“For larger apartments, area planning authorities, electrical inspectorates, pollution control, fire safety, labour among other departments need to be approached,” a developer said.
“A single window is needed if the Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA) is to be implemented. If we are to adhere to strict deadlines, sanctioning authorities need to follow deadlines, too. The process for approvals can take up to one year, and for large projects, if Central environment ministry approval is needed, this can take a year too. These bodies, too, need accountability,” said Suresh Hari, Secretary of the Builders’ Group, CREDAI.
Mr. Naidu also asked the State to publish rules enabling RERA within 15 days. Asked if the scope of RERA will include projects launched before May 1, Mr. Naidu said that the rules should include all projects.
Mr. Naidu also recommended reforms in land title issuing processes as well as credit rating systems for cities and towns in the State to help with private funding for projects.
Under the Atal Mission for Urban Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), three State annual action plans totalling an outlay of ₹4,953 crore have been proposed for completion by 2020. This will result in an addition of 20 lakh tap connections.
Mr. Naidu said that ₹2,319 crore will be given by the Union government as central assistance.
He also handed over funding documents of ₹107 crore towards the Smart Cities mission for projects in Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru, Shivamogga, and Tumakuru. “While the cities in the mission have formed special purpose vehicles and appointed CEOs, we urge them to also appoint Chief Financial Officers,” he said. Mr. Naidu also asked the State government to complete a demand survey for applications received under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and said that this should be completed by August this year.
“A total of 271 cities are covered in Karantaka under PMAY (Urban). We are ready to give approvals as we want to meet the Prime Minister’s target of housing for all by 2022. Approval of all projects for low, medium, and high potential towns will be undertaken by 2018-19,” he said.
Swachh Bharat rankings to be released
Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday said that his Ministry would release countrywide rankings for cleanest towns under the Swachh Bharat Mission on Thursday. The Swachh Survekshan 2017 rankings are based on a survey of over 18 lakh residents, inspections of 17,500 locations in 434 cities and towns.
“Over 83 % of respondents said that their area was cleaner than before. This shows the mission is a success. Rankings will be released on Thursday,” Mr. Naidu said. Last year, Mysuru had topped the rankings nationally out of the 476 cities.
