Last week, the Bombay High Court demanded a response from the Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary of the state Urban Development Department (UDD) regarding the minimum time required to enforce fire safety regulations for buildings at risk. The court criticised the state government for failing to meet deadlines for issuing final notifications. It issued a warning that if the proper procedures are not followed, it may pass an order halting all development approvals granted by various planning authorities and corporations, at least within the city of Mumbai, during the next hearing.Read more

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has streamlined its property mutation process to address delays and meet the 60-day completion mandate. Key changes include allowing the property section to verify online fee payments directly, assigning specific responsibilities to officials and implementing a more efficient workflow. The new system involves rapid assignment of applications, timely reviews by planning assistants, and quicker decision-making by property officers. For inheritance cases, a streamlined publication and review process has been established. These improvements aim to reduce processing times, enhance efficiency and provide better service to property owners acquiring residential or commercial properties in LDA schemes.Read more

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) plans to construct around 20,000 houses in the Mumbai, Konkan, and Pune regions within the next nine months, with nearly 12,000 units to be announced soon. Recently, MHADA sold 2,030 homes in Mumbai, attracting 134,350 applications. The housing minister highlighted plans for further sales in the Konkan region and additional units in Pune after the assembly elections, emphasising affordable housing initiatives like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).Read more

Pernem Police have charged five individuals, including residents from Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad, with forging a board resolution of Eco Promoters Pvt Ltd to facilitate the sale of seven flats at Agarwada-Chopdem. Inspector Sachin Lokre stated that the accused conspired to create fraudulent documents and forged signatures of the company's directors, presenting them as genuine at the sub-registrar's office in Pernem. The complaint was lodged by Harish Arora on behalf of Eco Promoters Pvt Ltd, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding property fraud and the manipulation of legal documents in real estate transactions.Read more

The government is implementing a comprehensive resettlement plan to support families affected by disaster. The first phase focuses on resettling those who lost their homes and land, while the second phase targets families in unsafe areas. A draft beneficiary list will be published by the district collector, with the revenue department overseeing the finalisation process. The resettlement package prioritises livelihood opportunities, providing employment and training for women in their chosen fields, and support for businesses in rented spaces. Sustainable farming facilities will also be considered to ensure long-term livelihoods for the community.Read more

The Mussoorie Municipal Council has issued demolition notices for 17 buildings deemed unfit for habitation, including the historic Koh-i-Noor building and Hotel Prince. These actions follow orders from the National Green Tribunal, which highlighted concerns over land stability and excessive unplanned construction. A nine-member panel was established to study the town's carrying capacity, revealing that 19 buildings were identified as dangerous based on a 2022 survey. Notably, a bungalow owned by the wife of former cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has already been demolished and reconstructed, eliminating safety concerns.Read more

The Jaipur Development Authority's enforcement wing demolished seven illegal colonies last week, which were constructed without the necessary approvals. The colonies included developments on private agricultural land in Vatika and Simliya villages, as well as Bhairav City along the road to Sanskrit College. An enforcement official noted the swift action taken against a new illegal colony in front of Chandlai village, where three bighas of private land were being levelled without clearance. The JDA's proactive measures underscore its commitment to regulating land use and preventing illegal constructions in the region.Read more

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's Encroachment Department, under the direction of Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde, took eviction action in the Turbhe division due to non-compliance with a prior notice. An inspection at Mr. Arvind Manohar Thombre's property revealed approximately 750 sq. m. of unauthorized RCC construction. Despite a notice issued under the Maharashtra Regional Planning and Town Planning Act, the construction continued. The CIDCO Authority coordinated a joint eviction campaign, utilizing heavy machinery and personnel for the removal.Read more

The Central Government has updated its policy on the disposal of 60,000 acres of unused salt pan lands, facilitating their transfer for various national development projects such as affordable housing and renewable energy. The lands will be leased for 99 years, primarily to government entities. Significant cost reductions have been introduced, allowing land for public infrastructure at just 10% of the guideline value, while conservation projects can acquire land free of charge.Read more

The Rajasthan Housing Board (RHB) successfully auctioned residential and commercial properties valued at INR 142.54 crore earlier this week. The board expects to generate substantial revenue from various cities, with Jaipur contributing INR 90.70 crore. In previous phases, RHB set records for house sales, including 1,213 homes sold in just 12 days. Following a hiatus after the BJP government took power, the board has resumed auctions, promising ongoing opportunities for the public to benefit from future schemes.Read more