the goan I network
PANAJI
Urban Development Secretary Sudhir Mahajan has informed that a full-time Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA) authority will be set up in the state in the next 60 days. Mahajan provided this information at the launch of the RERA website at the Secretariat.
Speaking to reporters, Mahajan said, “Within 60 days, we will have RERA Authority in Goa. A high court judge is the chairperson of the selection committee, which will appoint the RERA Authority. The other members of the committee are housing secretary and law secretary.”
When asked as to who will be the members of RERA Authority, Mahajan replied, “By and large retired bureaucrats and judicial officers become members of such an authority.”
A full time RERA Authority will be a boon to the buyers of real-estate in the sector, as the RERA Act has vested a lot of powers in this body.
The RERA Act clearly says that the RERA Authority will regulate and promote the real estate sector by ensuring that the sale of plot/apartment/building is done in an efficient and transparent manner to protect the interest of consumers.
After launching the RERA website, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar assured builders of time-bound services and government accountability.
Ever since the Real Estate Regulation and Development Act (RERA) came into being, builders have been complaining that although the Act provides for stringent penalties for builders if they are unable to deliver real-estate to buyers in a time-bound manner, it doesn’t have provisions to ensure that government departments give approvals for projects in a time-bound manner as well.
Now, it appears that the state government has considered builders’ grievances in this regard. Parrikar said, “There is one demand that no objection certificates (NOCs) from panchayats, etc needs to be given in a time-bound manner. From April 1, time-bound services will kick in.”
This is because from April 1, the Goa Public Service Guarantee Act will be totally implemented in the state. Due to this, all government departments will have to give permissions for real-estate projects in a specified time.
Parrikar continued, “Under this Act, you can’t delay reply for any application beyond a particular number of days. Also, people will have the right to go against the delay and the concerned officer can be penalised financially. The Act has already been implemented for few services. Now, I have asked them to implement it fully from April 1.”
Parrikar also mentioned that the government departments have been given two months to understand the Act. The government will also conduct training camps for spreading awareness about the Act.
He continued, “There is a everyday fine for not giving permissions on time. At the same time, it is the responsibility of the applicants also to ensure that their papers are in order.”
Dr Desh Prabhudessai, president of the Goa unit of CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India), said, “The implementation of Goa Public Service Guarantee Act will ensure that builders get permissions smoothly from the departments. In RERA, there is no mention of government accountability. Therefore, projects may get stuck unless government departments are required to give permissions in a time-bound manner.”
