State awaits decision on Centre’s realty Bill

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, July 2

The state government is waiting for a decision on the Centre’s Real Estate Regulation Authority Bill, 2013 before rolling out its proposed Apartment Bill drafted to regulate the real estate sector. The Centre’s Bill is likely to be tabled in the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament

Officials of the Urban Development Development, who returned from Shimla on Tuesday after attending a meeting of members of the standing committee (Rajya Sabha), said the proposal to set up a regulatory and appellate authority would give teeth to the Uttarakhand’s draft Bill.

The role of the appellate authority would be to solve disputes and impose a compensation.

In the past few year, there has been an increase in the real estate activity in the state. Realtors are taking buyers for a ride. Complaints such as builders failing to deliver on the promised green patch and other issues have been nagging the government.

To prevent such incidents, the government started the exercise of drafting a Bill, which is being examined by the Law Department. “The central Act has proposed the setting up of a real estate regulatory authority in each state. Consumers can lodge complaints and appeal before the appellate authority. All these necessary safeguards will protect the interest of consumers,” said Preetam Panwar, Minister of Urban Development.

Significantly, once the Centre’s Bill is passed, Uttarakhand will adopt the provisions in its Bill.

“Usually the state governments are seen succumbing to pressure on issues that may go against them. Whenever regulatory Acts are brought into effect, there is always a demand for bringing about a change in one provision or the other. On the other hand, the Centre’s Bill would negate such efforts,” said a senior official from the Urban Development Department.