BENGALURU: Homebuyers had high hopes of the Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority (Rera-K) but the regulator is functioning like another arm of the bureaucracy rather than protecting their interests. But there’s renewed hope with the BJP in power in the state.
MS Shankar, the national secretary, Forum for People’s Collective Efforts, an organisation of homebuyers said that they are hoping things will change as Rera is the BJP’s brain child.
After much delay, the Rera Act in Karnataka was implemented on July 10, 2017 by the Congress government led by Siddaramaiah. It looks good on paper, but on the ground, it’s still ineffective. This, Shankar claimed, is largely because the government diluted some significant provisions when they framed the rules a year later.
On Friday, a delegation of homebuyers met senior BJP MLA and former law minister S Suresh Kumar and apprised him about Rera-K’s shortcomings. They also appealed for repealing of the old rules and notification of new regulations to protect homebuyers.
The delegation wanted the government to notify rules pertaining to “agreement for sales” which had been pending by the two previous regimes. Kumar said he’d facilitate a meeting with CM BS Yediyurappa who would take the final call. He also added that undoubtedly, rules governining the Act have been completely diluted in Karnataka. Measures will be taken to ensure the Act is implemented in letter and spirit by relooking at rules framed by previous governments.
According to homebuyers, several rules have been diluted to help developers. Among these, Section 3, which deals with project registration, has been completely weakened. As a result, builders are not abiding to deadlines. For instance, homebuyers in about 25% of projects registered under Rera have paid over 70-100% of the cost of flats while construction has not even reached 50%. Many projects have been developed on encroached land and no action has been taken despite complaints.
Source: Times of India