Maha seeks Centre's help for early Presidential nod to housing act

Trigger recent incident involving Campa Cola housing complex situated at Worli in north central Mumbai

Maharashtra government in a fresh appeal has sought the Centre's intervention for getting Presidential assent  for the Maharashtra Housing (Regulation and Development) Act, 2012.

The trigger was the recent incident involving Campa Cola housing complex situated at Worli in north central Mumbai wherein the Supreme Court last week  put on hold the demolition of the illegal flats in the same complex until further orders.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan in a letter addressed today to union housing minister Girija Vyas said violation of Development Control Rules in case of Campa Cola housing complex came to light. However, the entire episode has brought to the focus the neeed for putting in place an effective regulator for the housing sector.

Chavan said the Maharashtra Housing (Regulation and Development) Act, 2012 passed by the state legislature has been forward to the Centre awaiting the Presidential assent. He added that he had earlier sent communication to the Centre in this regard on July 21, 2012 and May 2, 2013.

According to Chavan, The Maharashtra Housing (Regulation and Development) Act, 2012, is a comprehensive statute, which seeks to address specific issues by removing information asymmetry, ensuring full disclosure by promoters or developers and compliance of agreed terms and conditions, while registering, monitoring and supervising housing projects through the housing regulator. Further, the chief minister said that state law ensures transparency and discipline in transactions of flats, and putting a check on abuses and malpractices.

Chavan reminded that  states are entitled to enact their law as per the section 78 of the Centre's Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill, 2013.