Govt asks local bodies to upload construction permissions to their websites, link them with MahaRERA

In case the local bodies do not have websites for this purpose, the Urban Development department directed them to design and activate the websites and integrate them with MahaRERA before March 31, 2023. Meanwhile, all local bodies have been directed to email the permissions to MahaRERA. The local bodies will have to communicate updates in the permissions to RERA each time. A government resolution to the effect was issued by the Urban Development department on Thursday.

“In case of Mumbai, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) already has a mechanism to publish these permissions online and integrate it with RERA,” an official said.

Last year, it had come to light that builders in Kalyan Dombivali constructed buildings without requisite permissions from the local bodies and sold apartments in these buildings by creating fraudulent documents of permission. A senior official said, “These documents are submitted to RERA with a self-declaration from the builder, who submits an affidavit. However, until now, there was no way for RERA to verify if these documents are original. If a fraudulent document is submitted with the signature of the concerned authority, it is taken as an original permission.”

“RERA wrote to the Urban Development department last year requesting it to develop a mechanism where documents can be verified, following which these provisions were made,” the official said.

Vilas Nagalkar, a city-based architect, said, “Commencement Certificates are granted for various stages during the project, such as for construction up to the plinth level and then for the construction of subsequent floors. In many cases, developers do not yet have CCs for the construction of top floors but they sell the flats on those floors to buyers showing CCs obtained for the construction of the bottom floors. Since this mechanism also has the option where local bodies have to upload updated permissions as well, it will be helpful for property buyers.”