The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has announced a lottery for 5,311 affordable homes in satellite towns near Mumbai, including Thane, Palghar, and Raigad districts. These homes will range in price from Rs 9 to 49 lakh and will be available in micro-markets near Mumbai such as Vasai, Virar, Titwala, Thane, Kalyan, and Mumbra. The apartments will vary in size from 258 to 667 sq ft carpet area. Over 1,000 homes are being sold under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (PMAY), with MHADA expecting increased applications due to revised income criteria. The lottery results will be announced on November 7, 2023.Read more

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) buildings department has adopted a proactive approach to combat deforestation associated with construction projects. They will withhold the issuance of completion certificates (CC) for housing projects or individual buildings if developers or landowners have felled trees without the necessary permissions. The CC is essential for obtaining utilities like water supply and drainage connections. Officials will visit construction sites during the plan submission phase to compare planned tree numbers with actual ones. Developers must secure permissions from the state forest department and the KMC parks department to cut trees. Any unauthorized tree cutting will result in FIRs and withheld CCs.Read more

Haryana's Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, launched the e-Bhoomi portal to streamline land acquisition for government projects. Both farmers and registered aggregators can now list land offers, subject to specific criteria. Parallelly, the No-Litigation Policy-2023 portal has been introduced to resolve historic land disputes in the Manesar Tehsil region. Additionally, the Mukhyamantri Shehri Awas Yojana portal aims to provide housing to economically vulnerable families. The series of digital initiatives highlight Haryana's drive towards transparency and swift governance.Read more

The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has introduced a new requirement for builders constructing more than 25 units in housing complexes. They must now provide bank guarantees, the amounts of which depend on the project's cost, ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 40 lakh. This move is in response to numerous complaints from the public regarding faulty sewage treatment plants (STPs) in housing complexes. If an STP is found to be malfunctioning, the builder will forfeit the bank guarantee, which will be used to repair the STP. However, if the STP functions correctly, the bank guarantee will be returned to the builder, promoting environmental compliance in construction projects.Read more

The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) in Andhra Pradesh is taking significant steps to expand housing options for citizens and reduce the influence of private real estate developers. They plan to auction 415 residential and commercial plots in Guntur and NTR districts. To make these plots more accessible, the CRDA will collect registration and stamp duty for only 60% of the total cost, categorizing the remaining 40% as a development cost. Buyers will also have the option to pay the total cost in instalments within a year of purchase. This move aligns with the government's efforts to provide affordable housing and promote horizontal urban growth while empowering potential homeowners.Read more

A representative from the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) recently disclosed that they have concluded the selection of approximately 510 plots and identified 5,800 beneficiaries for their town planning scheme. Under the scheme, beneficiaries will receive 50% of their land back at the same site. This marks a significant step forward in their urban development efforts, demonstrating the organization's commitment to planned growth and efficient land allocation within the Pune region. The scheme's progress showcases PMRDA's dedication to enhancing the infrastructure and quality of life for the local population.Read more

In a recent judgment, the Bombay High Court rejected a tenant's plea for additional commercial space in a contentious redevelopment dispute involving a cessed building in Byculla. The tenant, Raj Bucket Factory (RBF), had sought additional carpet area within the new building. The High Court expressed incredulity that a tenant in space-constrained Mumbai could claim ignorance about the extent of the area they were occupying. The court noted previous legal battles and orders related to the property and emphasized that RBF appeared unwilling to vacate the transit building despite previous orders. This decision has implications for similar disputes in Mumbai's real estate market.Read more

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a notice to the Haryana government, Samalakha MLA Dharam Singh Chhokar, his two sons, and Mahira Buildwell Private Limited (formerly known as M/s Czar Buildwell) in response to a plea requesting an investigation into FIRs (First Information Reports) filed against Chhokar on charges of cheating. The petitioners argue that despite multiple FIRs against Chhokar, local law enforcement has been reluctant to take action. Chhokar's family company, Mahira Buildwell Private Limited, is implicated in this complex legal dispute. The respondents have until December 18 to respond to the allegations related to land development and forgery.Read more

The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has filed a complaint in Gujarat's High Court, alleging that the state government hastily approved Town Planning Scheme 99 in Naroda-Chiloda and acquired land without consulting ESIC during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The court has now demanded an explanation from the state government in response to these allegations. ESIC contends that their resources and attention were consumed by the pandemic's challenges, making it impossible for them to participate in consultations related to the scheme. This legal action raises questions about due process and governance during critical health crises.Read more

The Calcutta High Court has issued a stern call to action directed at Mayor Firhad Hakim, urging him to take decisive measures against "erring officers" who neglected their responsibilities regarding the construction of an illegal high-rise building on Canning Street. The court emphasized that if such officers are not held accountable and penalized, illegal construction will continue unchecked, potentially outnumbering authorized constructions in the city. The issue originated from a citizen's complaint during the 'Talk to Mayor' program, revealing that the illegal construction had been ongoing since 2020, yet proper action had not been taken. The court ruled that a proper hearing should be provided to all concerned parties before making any demolition order.Read more