Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) has been launched Somoto Action will be taken against real estate promoters and developers who advertise plots for sale without registering the projects with the authorities.

MahaRERA officials observed that developers advertised “non-agricultural plots” for sale and the projects were sold in the market without obtaining MahaRERA registration numbers. This is a serious violation of MahaRERA provisions and we have issued show notices to 41 such promoters in Maharashtra who advertised their projects without obtaining a MahaRERA registration number.

As per the law, such projects must be registered with MahaRERA. Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 states that registration with MahaRERA is essential for sale of plots, flats or buildings subject to fulfillment of certain conditions. Apart from this, promoters cannot advertise plots, flats or buildings for sale.

Of the 41 violating projects, majority were from Pune district (21). 13 are from Konkan district and seven belong to Nagpur district. A considerable number of illegal activities originate from the urban-rural fringe, near cities or in rural areas. However, the number of sales of such land-related projects in urban areas is minimal. Apart from its headquarters in Mumbai, MahaRERA also has regional offices in Pune and Nagpur.

The Mumbai headquarters covers the lower Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Konkan region, the Pune office covers western and northern Maharashtra, and the Nagpur office covers Vidarbha and Marathwada regions.

MahaRERA treats applications for planning projects on the same basis as applications for residential buildings. Therefore, projects related to land parcels also require financial, legal and technical review. The promoter must obtain the relevant statutory approvals from the local planning authority. Local authorities will review ownership, plot area, total area, plot boundaries, Non-Agricultural Certificate (NA) etc. The promoter/developer is responsible for water supply, internal roads, sewerage, public facilities, common areas, etc. and accordingly the Certificate of Occupancy is issued by the local planning authority.

Without these prerequisites and rigorous scrutiny, MahaRERA will not issue a registration number. Once a project is registered with MahaRERA, the promoters have to comply with a set of rules prescribed under the Real Estate Act. These are to protect the interests of investors/homebuyers. Therefore, MahaRERA appeals to people not to fall for scams and avoid buying land that has not been registered by the authorities.

“The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 was introduced to ensure investment security in the real estate sector. Before advertising plots, apartments and buildings for sale, it is mandatory to obtain a MahaRERA registration number. Nonetheless, without obtaining MahaRERA registration It remains an offense to advertise and sell plots despite No. This is to protect the rights of investors. MahaRERA will not tolerate any irregularities in the real estate sector and the issuance of show notices is to protect the interests of buyers.” MahaRERA Chairman Ajoy Mehta said.