30 Jan 2025

The Haryana government has introduced a new tree felling policy for non-forest land, eliminating the need for approvals on government-acquired or allocated plots for residential and industrial projects. The policy, aimed at balancing urban development and environmental protection, allows for the removal of non-native species like eucalyptus and poplar without permission, while indigenous species remain protected. Haryana's forest cover declined by 13.9 sq km from 2021 to 2023, with 8.2% of its land facing desertification. Environmentalists warn of further degradation, though initiatives like Pran Vayu Devta aim to preserve heritage trees, offering financial incentives to owners of 3,876 trees.Read more

29 Jan 2025

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is preparing to propose a mandatory structural audit for multi-storey buildings every three years during its first board meeting of the year. The proposal will make developers responsible for the audits, with accountability shifting to apartment owners' associations (AOAs) if maintenance is transferred. The policy will classify defects as major or minor, with clear timelines for rectification. Industry experts and residents believe this move will enhance building safety, especially in earthquake-prone regions like Delhi-NCR.Read more

29 Jan 2025

The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) in Bhopal has initiated a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) to investigate alleged irregularities in Sahara Group's land sales. The enquiry focuses on violations of Supreme Court directives that required proceeds from land sales to be deposited in a SEBI-Sahara refund account for investor reimbursement. Instead, the funds were allegedly diverted into accounts belonging to Sahara entities and private shell companies. The probe targets officials from Sahara Housing Corporation Investment Group, authorised sellers, and revenue officers, raising questions about the internal misuse of funds.Read more

29 Jan 2025

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently attached two commercial properties worth INR 82 crore in Delhi and Gurugram as part of its investigation into a money-laundering case involving MGF Developments and its director, Shravan Gupta. The case stems from allegations that Gupta misappropriated INR 180 crore from Emaar MGF Land Limited, a joint venture between Emaar PJSC and MGF Developments. Gupta allegedly siphoned off funds using two companies under false agreements. Despite several summonses, Gupta has yet to cooperate with the investigation.Read more

29 Jan 2025

The Maharashtra Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (MahaREAT) overturned a previous MahaRERA decision that dismissed complaints of eight homebuyers regarding the One Park Avenue project in Thane. The dispute originated when the initial promoter, Man Global, failed to issue allotment letters or execute sale agreements after receiving advance payments in 2012. The project later transitioned to Man Realty and eventually to Purva Oak under SARFAESI provisions. Recognising the complainants as allottees, MahaREAT ruled that all pending obligations were transferred to Purva Oak. The Tribunal directed the current promoter to execute sale agreements, ensuring the accrued rights of the complainants remained valid and enforceable.Read more

29 Jan 2025

The Dharwad High Court recently ruled in favour of Srinivas Bheemanna Menadal, a resident of Koppal, who had filed a petition challenging the Koppal Municipal Council's refusal to transfer a property khata from his deceased wife's name to his. The council had denied the request citing the absence of town planning authority approval for the layout. Menadal argued that the rejection was unlawful, supported by a High Court judgment that had previously ruled that khata registration cannot be denied based on layout maintenance concerns. The court agreed, revoking the council's decision and setting a four-week deadline for the transfer to be completed.Read more

29 Jan 2025

A real estate developer, Harinder Bashista, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding his investors of INR 30 crore through a fraudulent property scheme. The case stems from a complaint filed in May 2022, which led to the registration of an FIR in June 2022. Investors, including Sunil Gupta, were tricked into buying units in a project in Greater Noida with false promises and fake documents. Despite assurances of timely possession, the project remains incomplete, leaving buyers without their promised units. As of now, the developer faces 75 complaints from affected investors.Read more

28 Jan 2025

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has collected INR 4,370 crore in property tax for the 2024-25 fiscal year, reaching 83% of its INR 5,210 crore target with two months remaining. The success is attributed to the One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme, which helped bring defaulters into compliance, and rigorous enforcement measures, including property seizures. Weekly collection targets of INR 10-13 crore have maintained momentum, with an additional INR 500 crore expected by March. Zone-wise, Mahadevapura leads with INR 1,169 crore, while Yelahanka achieved 94.95% of its target. BBMP's proactive strategies set a benchmark for municipal tax efficiency.Read more

28 Jan 2025

The Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) is set to launch an online portal, www.shreesampatti.in, to streamline property transactions related to temple lands, covering over 60,426 acres across Odisha and other states. The portal will allow users to submit applications, check status, and reduce manual paperwork under the Uniform Policy-2003. Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan stated that the initiative aims to resolve illegal land occupations and generate INR 8,000-10,000 crore for temple initiatives. Alongside digitizing land records, SJTA is enhancing online donation systems and plans to modernize temple administration through various digital initiatives.Read more

28 Jan 2025

The Industrial Entrepreneurs Association (IEA) has requested the Uttar Pradesh government to replace the e-auction system for industrial plots up to 2,000 sq. meters with a draw of lots to support MSMEs. The IEA argues that the current system favors large investors and inflates land prices, making it difficult for small businesses to secure plots. In a letter to Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, the IEA proposed prioritizing MSMEs renting land for over five years and streamlining approvals through the Nivesh Mitra portal. The move aims to foster a more inclusive industrial growth environment in Uttar Pradesh.Read more