The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has announced fines of up to INR 1 crore for illegal hill cutting activities. TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane clarified that no permissions for hill cutting were granted in the past six months. To prevent future violations, the department will introduce new guidelines, including mandatory soil stabilisation reports. These measures are aimed at ensuring the stricter enforcement of environmental laws and holding offenders accountable. The Goa government is aiming to crack down heavily on offenders and to protect the environment. These measures will ensure strong action against those who engage in illegal activities in Goa.Read more

The Appellate Tribunal has ruled that acquiring property using illicit income qualifies as a "benami transaction" under the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act. This ruling follows a case involving an agriculture department employee who acquired property worth INR 4.58 crore through unlawful means. The case now awaits the Supreme Court's judgment on whether the Benami law can be applied retrospectively, meaning penalties could apply even for transactions completed before the law was updated. The ruling emphasizes the government's stance against illegal financial practices and attempts to prevent money laundering through property transactions.Read more

Gautam Buddhnagar is changing its industrial land allocation policy. The new plan includes e-auctions for plots up to 8,000 square meters and a return to previous methods for larger plots. This decision follows a review led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and aims to balance land allocation between small and large businesses. Earlier, e-auctions were replaced by interviews, but smaller entrepreneurs criticized this change. The new policy will start soon, but concerns still exist about favoritism towards larger investors.Read more

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is poised to implement the Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Policy introduced by Uttar Pradesh in 2022. With community concerns addressed, the policy will take effect next month. The TOD policy aims to boost urban living by encouraging high-density, mixed-use developments near mass transit hubs, promoting connectivity, economic growth, and sustainability. Expected to increase GDA revenue by INR 1,500 crore annually, the policy also focuses on reducing traffic congestion and pollution, creating a more livable and accessible environment in Ghaziabad.Read more

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has introduced a significant policy shift under the Gujarat Regularisation of Unauthorised Development Act 2022, allowing the regularisation of non-residential structures with a Floor Space Index (FSI) up to 4.5. The updated guidelines permit regularisation for non-residential buildings up to 1,000 square metres and residential ones up to 2,000 square metres. Property owners now have the option to address parking deficiencies through a fee, offering greater flexibility compared to previous regulations. This initiative aims to enhance rural urban planning, support economic growth, and improve infrastructure by integrating unauthorised constructions into formal regulations.Read more

Tensions have escalated in Raidurg Paigah village, Hyderabad, following a demolition drive by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Telangana Leather Industrial Development Corporation (TLIDC) to clear 5.8 acres for the Unity Mall project. While the INR 200 crore mall promises economic growth, locals protest, asserting legal ownership of the land. The TLIDC claims rights to 42 acres, insisting residents have no legal claim. The conflict highlights the ongoing struggle between urban development and residents' rights, with the outcome potentially impacting property rights in Hyderabad.Read more

The Karnataka government is set to implement a new 'Anywhere Registration' system across all 257 sub-registrar offices in the state starting September 2. This innovative system will allow residents to choose any sub-registrar office within their district's jurisdiction to register their properties, providing them with greater convenience and flexibility. The concept, which was originally introduced in Bengaluru in 2011, has proven effective in specific districts and is now being extended statewide. A successful pilot phase in Belagavi and Tumakuru districts has paved the way for the system's rollout across all registration districts in Karnataka.Read more

In Karnataka, only 40% of homestays are officially registered, leading to a surge in unregulated accommodations, particularly in the Western Ghats. This scenic region, popular for eco-tourism, has seen a rise in unregistered homestays, many of which operate without oversight, raising concerns about safety, legality, and environmental impact. Some influential individuals exploit the lack of regulation by running full-fledged resorts disguised as homestays to avoid stricter commercial property regulations. This unregulated growth poses risks such as revenue loss for the state, environmental degradation, and safety issues for tourists. The Karnataka government is under pressure to enforce stricter registration and inspection requirements to ensure that all homestays comply with state laws, protecting both the environment and visitors.Read more

Property registrations in Pune and across Maharashtra have been disrupted by a technical glitch in the Aadhaar verification system, affecting e-registrations since August 6. The online system, crucial for efficient property transactions, has failed, forcing homebuyers and developers to visit sub-registrar offices in person. This has led to significant delays and increased footfall at these offices, creating bottlenecks in the registration process. Developers, who typically use e-registration for multiple properties, are particularly impacted, as manual processing slows transactions. The registration department is working to resolve the issue but has not provided a timeline, leaving property buyers and developers in a state of uncertainty as they await the restoration of online services.Read more

The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) is set to demolish a 10-story illegal building, Yusuf Heights, in Kalyan, Maharashtra, after the monsoon season. Erected without legal permissions on land designated for a garden and night shelter, the building was constructed using forged documents, leading to significant revenue losses for the government. The Thane Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) uncovered the fraud, implicating builder Salman Dolare and his associates in serious legal violations. The KDMC's decision to demolish Yusuf Heights is part of a broader crackdown on illegal constructions in the area, aiming to restore urban planning integrity and protect public spaces. Local residents support the move, hoping it will deter future illegal developments.Read more