State plans to blacklist rogue builders

Minister of State for Housing Sachin Ahir said his department was mulling over ways to blacklist rogue builders.

Minister of State for Housing Sachin Ahir said his department was mulling over ways to blacklist rogue builders.

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“We will propose amendments to existing laws about a blacklist [of defaulters] for an effective check on builders. This applies to those having many complaints of cheating consumers and known nexus with criminals,” said Ahir.

Those in the blacklist will be barred from getting contracts from MHADA, Public Works Department and the BMC.

Ahir said such an amendment would be brought to the Legislature in March.

Since 2008, the state is sitting on a promise to set up the Housing Regulatory Commission that will have powers to act as a civil court. It can settle disputes, regulate builders and fix range of prices for housing.

Bureaucrats, however, feel it’s easier said than done. “How do you prosecute builders? They are out of government purview,” said a bureaucrat.