Maharashtra govt to make fresh plea for assent to regulator Bill

Maha to ask Centre again to push housing regulator bill

The Congress-led government in Maharashtra will soon approach the Centre with a fresh plea for recommending its Bill to form a housing regulator to the President of India for his assent.

The state legislature had passed the Maharashtra Housing (Regulation & Development) Bill 2012 last year, which is  pending for Presidential assent.

The Maharashtra government move comes close on the heels of the Union Cabinet's clearance to the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill. The state government says  its Bill should not get scrapped in the wake of the central Act.

Maharashtra minister of state for housing, Sachin Ahir told Business Standard: “We are writing to the Centre for an early assent to the Maharashtra Housing (Regulation & Development) Bill 2012. The government will make all efforts to see that state Bill remains in place.”

The Bill envisages repeal of the Maharashtra Ownership Flats Act, 1963, in a bid to provide relief to flat purchasers against malpractices and difficulties. The Housing Regulatory Authority and Housing Appellate Tribunal will be formed and the Bill aims at removing information asymmetry by ensuring full disclosure and compliance.

Further, the government official said it would be mandatory for the promoter to register the agreement for sale.