Gurgaon: Homebuyers hold protest, submit memorandum to CM on RERA draft

Homebuyers claim the draft rules under RERA have been diluted to exclude builders who have secured completion certificates, but their projects are unfinished

City homebuyers, on Wednesday, held a peaceful protest outside the deputy commissioner’s office at the Mini Secretariat over the alleged dilution of rules in the state’s Real Estate Regulatory Act (RERA) draft.

In the memorandum addressed to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the homebuyers demanded that all projects for which the builders fail to obtain completion certificates by the time the Act comes into force, should be brought under it. (Parveen Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Later, the homebuyers, under the banner of Gurgaon Citizens’ Council (GCC), which is largely represented by residents of private colonies, submitted a memorandum to sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), North, Bharat Bhushan Gogia.

In the memorandum addressed to chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, the homebuyers demanded that all projects for which the builders fail to obtain completion certificates by the time the Act comes into force, should be brought under it.

“All such projects should come under the purview of the Haryana RERA 2017. We held a peaceful protest to voice our misgivings over the dilution of RERA rules by the town planning officials,” RS Rathee, president, GCC, said.

The memorandum said the idea behind the Act as drafted by the Centre was to regulate and promote the real estate sector and the state’s version of it should also reflect a similar intent.

Read I Gurgaon: Homebuyers find more faults with RERA draft

“The Act has to ensure transparency in purchase of plots, apartments and buildings. It has to safeguard the interest of consumers and establish a mechanism for redressal of disputes,” the memorandum said.

Homebuyers told the sub-divisional magistrate that they want the state to implement the RERA as drafted by the Centre in 2016.

Shephalika Sharma, vice-president, Federation of Apartments’ Owners’ Association (FAOA), Gurgaon, said, “Our demand to include all such projects is justified. If the state government doesn’t meet our demand, thousands of residents and homebuyers will be deprived of the benefits of RERA.”

A state government spokesperson said the feedback received by the town planning department on the RERA draft rules are being considered by officials concerned.

“The government will consider all suggestions from residents,” the spokesperson said.