03 Nov 2023

A three-member panel, appointed by the Jharkhand High Court, conducted a surprise inspection of residential and commercial buildings within the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (INAC) limits. The inspection aims to determine whether the Jharkhand Municipal Act rules and Building Bylaws 2016 have been adhered to. The panel, consisting of Raj Nandan Sahay, Sudarshan Shrivastava, and Neeraj Pandey, scrutinized several structures in Bistupur, Sakchi, and other areas. The findings will be presented to the court, with the inspection continuing in the following days.Read more

03 Nov 2023

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has demolished six unauthorized structures within the privately-run Marine Aqua Zoo in Dadar, following concerns over unauthorized development within the zoo. The structures included unapproved brick buildings and sheds made of bamboo, tarpaulin, and leaves. Despite a 15-day notice to remove these structures, the zoo management did not comply, leading to their demolition. The zoo had already been under scrutiny due to animals appearing in the nearby civic-run swimming pool. The BMC's actions emphasize the importance of adhering to regulations and ensuring responsible management practices within the zoo.Read more

02 Nov 2023

The BMC in Mumbai has initiated stop-work notices for builders who fail to adhere to recent anti-air pollution guidelines. Multiple construction sites, including one in Mulund and Santacruz, received these notices. The Prestige City site in Mulund was found in violation of 13 conditions, leading to the notice. The guidelines cover various aspects, including the use of metal sheets, wet cloth, enclosed areas for certain tasks, and protective equipment for workers. Compliance is required within 15-30 days. However, some in the construction industry argue that these guidelines may lead to safety issues, and many of the required equipment are not readily available in the market.Read more

02 Nov 2023

The state of Maharashtra is struggling to get construction workers to register. Out of an estimated workforce of 70 lakh laborers employed across various construction sites, a mere 14 lakh are officially registered with the Maharashtra Labour Welfare Board. The sluggish pace of registration is primarily due to challenges in meeting registration criteria. This leaves unregistered workers and their families ineligible for essential welfare programs, such as health and accident insurance. Statistics show that accidents involving unregistered workers are alarmingly high on sites, making registration all the more imperative. To address this issue, the labour department is said to be streamlining the registration process and reducing the number of documents required for registration.Read more

02 Nov 2023

Residents of HRBR Layout in Bengaluru have identified 130 illegal buildings, a mix of commercial and residential, that violate zoning regulations and lack adequate parking space. People expressed concern about the congestion and deteriorating living conditions due to the commercialization of the area. Despite premium charges for residential land, commercial buildings have been constructed, often with more than three floors and insufficient parking. Vehicles of employees and customers are being parked on roads, footpaths, and in front of other residential houses and gates, making it a nuisance to the people. Frustrated with the BBMP's inaction, residents petitioned the BBMP Chief Commissioner and Deputy Chief Minister, urging the cancellation of licenses for commercial buildings on residential plots.Read more

02 Nov 2023

Maharashtra is set to introduce a revolutionary housing policy, emphasizing the "walk to work" concept in industrial zones. The policy is expected to come into effect next financial year. The new policy comes after 17 years and aims to enhance land availability for developers and streamline project approvals. Key features include rental housing for migrant workers, and specialized colonies for seniors. While there were proposed policies in 2015 and 2021, they were never approved. The present policy, shaped through consultations with developers and consumer groups, seeks to address Maharashtra's evolving housing demands in industrial cities like Nashik, Aurangabad, and parts of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).Read more

01 Nov 2023

The Maharashtra government's plan to redevelop 290 slum clusters along the coastline, potentially freeing up around 188 hectares of prime land, awaits approval from the central government under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-2 regulations. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) is considering the proposal pending a comprehensive environmental analysis. The redevelopment initiative, if approved, could transform Mumbai's urban landscape, offering opportunities for luxury housing projects. Although landward side slums can be redeveloped, challenges related to seaward-side slums remain till the MoEFCC approval.Read more

01 Nov 2023

Despite a proposal from the revenue department introduced a year ago, the state government has yet to grant approval for the introduction of vertical property cards for flat owners, according to senior revenue officials. These proposed cards aim to contain crucial details like ownership information, carpet area, and bank loans, with the broader goal of mapping vertical urban and rural expansion. This initiative would serve to establish an independent record of rights and registrations for individual residential apartments, improving ownership documentation. Currently, there's no specific document proving ownership for flat owners in residential buildings, making this approval crucial to streamlining property transactions and reducing legal disputes in the real estate market.Read more

01 Nov 2023

The Delhi government's revenue department has digitized various property records and integrated them into a central server, accessible through the Delhi Online Registration Information System (DORIS) portal. This enables the public to easily verify property status and ownership details, ensuring they are not disputed or prohibited. Sub-registrar offices categorize properties, simplifying property searches. Sub-registrars can swiftly authenticate property records, eliminating the need for time-consuming no-objection certificates. This initiative seeks to prevent fraudulent property transactions, reduce corruption, and streamline property registration in Delhi, marking a significant leap in transparency and efficiency.Read more

01 Nov 2023

The Karnataka High Court has quashed an FIR and vacated Enforcement Directorate (ED) attachments worth about Rs 285 crore in a case involving the real estate firm Mantri Group. The ED had attached assets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after homebuyers filed an FIR against the Mantri group for diverting funds collected from homebuyers and not completing the projects. But the court ruled that a breach of contract or agreement does not fall under criminal law. The court stated that if the FIR is quashed, the ED attachment becomes invalid.Read more