Chennai News Desk

15 Feb 2026

The Madras High Court has refused to hear a batch of petitions opposing the proposed construction of a high-rise residential complex near the ecologically sensitive Pallikaranai marshland in Chennai, which includes a designated Ramsar site, judges said in court this week. Petitioners, including an advocate representing the AIADMK legal wing and the NGO Arappor Iyakkam, had sought to quash environmental and building plan approvals granted to the private developer and to restrain construction within a one-kilometre radius of the marshland, citing alleged violations of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules. However, a division bench led by the Chief Justice observed that matters concerning wetland protection were already before the Supreme Court and declined to conduct a parallel hearing, advising the petitioners to approach the apex court for relief. As a result, the interim stay on construction that had been in place was vacated.Read more

15 Feb 2026

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner, Dr Kailas Shinde, has directed stricter enforcement of air pollution control measures, with a specific focus on construction sites across the city. During a comprehensive review meeting with departmental heads, the commissioner assessed the implementation of pollution mitigation norms, encroachment control, sanitation services, tax recovery and digital governance systems. Officials were instructed to conduct physical inspections of construction sites to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures and to take firm action against violations, including issuing notices and halting work where required. The review also covered sanitation drives, public toilet maintenance, property tax and water charge recovery, and the promotion of online payment systems. The commissioner further emphasised faster grievance redressal, improved internal workflows, and closer coordination with elected representatives to support holistic urban development in Navi Mumbai.Read more

15 Feb 2026

The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has detected widespread misreporting of property details during a verification drive aimed at improving holding tax collections. Physical inspections revealed that many residential, commercial and institutional properties had declared smaller built-up areas or incorrect usage categories to lower tax liabilities. Hospitals, offices and properties with basements were among those found under-assessed. The civic body has started correcting records, recalculating dues and issuing notices under the Jharkhand Municipal Act, warning of penalties for non-compliance and continued under-reporting.Read more

15 Feb 2026

Revenue officers in Haryana, including tehsildars and naib tehsildars, have ended their multi-day strike and will resume duties, providing significant relief to property buyers and sellers after a backlog of more than 11,000 pending land registries across the state. The withdrawal followed talks with the Financial Commissioner (Revenue) and assurances that officers grievances will be examined fairly and through proper legal procedures. During the strike, registration work had been stalled, delaying transactions and affecting state revenue. Government efforts to have sub-divisional magistrates and district revenue officers cover registration duties had limited success amid the walk-out. With normal operations set to restart, property registry services and other revenue office functions are expected to clear the accumulated backlog and ease procedural disruptions for the public.Read more

15 Feb 2026

The Maharashtra government has reviewed the reduction of land reserved for the Worli sewage treatment plant following a High Court order that halted construction on the site. Senior officials from the Urban Development department, BMC and SRA examined how the reserved area was reduced without statutory modification of the Development Plan. The court sought explanations on approvals granted for transit buildings on the land. The state reiterated the importance of the STP as critical civic infrastructure and reviewed whether the reduced land area is adequate for long-term sewage treatment requirements.Read more

14 Feb 2026

The Haryana government's Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has taken enforcement action against Golden Glow Estates, the developer of a group housing project in Sector 68, Badshahpur, Gurugram, after the project's development licence lapsed eight years ago and was not renewed, officials said earlier this week. The developer has reportedly accumulated more than INR 51.8 crore in external development charges and related dues. The DTCP has issued a show-cause notice to the company and directed the district town planner (enforcement) to initiate action under relevant provisions of the Haryana Development and Regulation of Urban Areas Act, requiring a compliance report within a short timeframe. Authorities indicated that subsequent steps could include licence cancellation, recovery of dues and other enforcement measures if the promoter does not respond satisfactorily. The case highlights intensified regulatory scrutiny of stalled and non-compliant housing projects in the state.Read more

14 Feb 2026

Renewed clashes between the Tangkhul Naga and Kuki communities in Manipur's Ukhrul district resulted in widespread arson, with more than 20 homes destroyed in and around the Litan area. The unrest began after an alleged assault on a Tangkhul Naga man, leading to stone-pelting exchanges and prolonged confrontations. Authorities imposed prohibitory orders and deployed security forces to restore order. Political leaders have been involved in talks to calm tensions, and efforts continue to prevent further escalation.Read more

Noida News Desk

14 Feb 2026

The Noida Authority has decided to implement a land pooling policy to secure agricultural land from farmers for urban development, after efforts to buy land at existing rates stalled due to resistance from landowners. The policy, already approved for industrial bodies under state regulations, will allow farmers to contribute land to pooled development and receive a share of the developed plots with 80 % for industrial use, 12 % for residential and 8 % for commercial instead of receiving outright cash compensation. Officials estimate around 500 acres along the Noida Expressway could be brought under the scheme. The authority has also raised the direct purchase rate from INR 5,500 to INR 9,000 per square metre to encourage voluntary sales of smaller plots. Farmers leaders welcomed the policy's use, noting that retaining a share of developed land may offer better long-term value than direct sale.Read more

14 Feb 2026

The National Company Law Tribunal has approved the resolution plan for Hotel Horizon, allowing a consortium led by Oberoi Realty, Shree Naman Developers and JM Financial Properties and Holdings to acquire the insolvent company. The plan proposes a payout of INR 919 crore against total admitted claims of INR 1,293 crore, offering around 74% recovery to lenders. Hotel Horizon's main asset is a prime 1.85-acre land parcel in Juhu, Mumbai. However, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal has put a temporary hold on equity creation under the plan, pending further hearings.Read more

Mumbai News Desk

14 Feb 2026

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has intensified recovery action against large property tax defaulters in Mumbai by issuing attachment and seizure notices under the municipal law. The civic body has identified several major developers and entities with long-pending dues running into hundreds of crores. Officials have warned that movable assets may be seized first, followed by auction of properties if payments are not made. Property tax remains a key revenue source for civic services, and the BMC has urged defaulters to clear arrears through available payment mechanisms.Read more