The progress achieved as far as registration under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act 2016 is concerned is abysmally low in Hubballi-Dharwad and Belagavi areas where real estate business has witnessed significant growth, Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) chairman Kapil Mohan has said.
Speaking at a workshop here on Wednesday, Mr. Mohan said that though RERA registration has been made mandatory to bring in discipline in the real estate business, only 69 projects have been registered in Hubballi-Dharwad so far. Similarly, the number of projects registered with RERA is 31 in Belagavi, three in Vijayapura and one each in Gadag and Davangere. It is disappointing that these areas are lagging behind in RERA registration, he said. Mr. Mohan said that the Union government implemented this act throughout the country to regulate real estate business. It has provisions to safeguard the interests of builders as well as customers. Even real estate agents have been brought under the orbit of this Act. Therefore, no one could avoid registration under this Act. Everyone should understand that the arms of the State are long and can reach wherever they wish to. RERA officials have set in the process of compiling the data base of all projects that have obtained permission from the Urban Development Authorities and the Urban Local Bodies. Hence, it will not be difficult to identify all real estate projects across the State.
Excuses such as lack of knowledge or information will not hold water and it was better to go for registration to avoid issues in future. Moreover, prolonged delay in registration of projects will attract more penalties. Sooner or later those having no RERA registration will have to face difficulties. All projects that have not been registered with RERA would be identified and acted upon. Those who will be caught will end up in paying hefty penalties. Apart from Civil Court procedures, there are provisions to imprison defaulters for three years, he added.
RERA has also made provisions for customers to file complaints. All complaints will be taken up only after holding preliminary investigation and prima facie found to be having merit. All process in RERA, including registration and filing complaints, are made online and office visits happen rarely. Arrangements have been made to hold district-level awareness workshops, he said.
