The Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority has stated that a simple conditional permit to convert an agricultural land into non-agricultural non-urban areas without providing any infrastructure can only qualify as an ongoing project and therefore must be registered under RERA.

A permit to convert a plot of land from agricultural to non-agricultural is only the beginning of the process and ends when tehsildar registers, that all imposed conditions are met and constitutes a “completion certificate”, MahaRERA explained.

Dealing in “plotted development” outside urban areas, MahaRERA instructed a developer to immediately register a project on August 10. It was found that the conditions imposed over a nearly decade-old nod for non-agriculture (NA) use by the Raigad collector remained pending.

No Advertisement before registration-

Ajoy Mehta, MahaRERA chairperson, said, the actual nomenclature of the completion certificate means that the premises are finished and suitable for human habitation. The use of Non Agricultural land starts when tehsildar corrects that all conditions are met.

Mehta ordered the developer not to advertise, sell or approve non-agricultural bookings in a project called Amarai in Kolad for sale. Until it is registered under Section 3 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA). He also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 for non-compliance with the provision of the law and failure to register an ongoing project. “The amenities that were promised and those listed in the NA judgment were not delivered. So, the property remains deprived of the amenities to allow a buyer to use it. Therefore, the project has no CC until the date,” said the order.

Mandatory to give Amenities stated in agreement-

Last year, the Amrai Kolad Plot Owners Welfare Association filed a complaint against Sai Developers, and others. According to their lawyer Zaman Ali, in May 2012, the Raigad district collector gave conditional NA permission to the developer to build infrastructure facilities, including roads, storm drains, sewerage, water supply and open space development within two years. Shortly after receiving permission, the developer started advertising the project, promising infrastructure services and a possession period of development costs of Rs 50,000 per plot. The complaint is that despite the payment “the project remained unfinished”.

After RERA went into effect on May 1, 2017, in October 2017, the developer announced new announcements for the remaining unsold plots offering services including the pool. But if infrastructure and services are not provided, the project will fall under RERA as an ongoing project that requires registration, the association said.

The developer, through his lawyer Tanmay Ketkar, argued that the project was completed in 2014, met all the conditions of NA and all plots were sold. So this is not an ongoing project, and the complaint is a “mala fide” harassment.

“In case of planned development, it is “imperative” that all agreed amenities should be completed, said Mehta. 

Also Read:-

Invest in Yamuna Expressway

6 month extension to builders to deliver projects-MahaRERA