PUNE: Homebuyers and citizens’ groups have urged the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) to build a framework for developers to maintain the quality of construction.
On December 4, the authority had floated a consultation paper seeking public suggestions on its proposed regulatory framework.
A MahaRERA official said the authority will collate the suggestions till December 31 and come out with the SOP subsequently.
“The framework will help to maintain the construction quality,” MahaRERA chairman Ajoy Mehta said.
Initially, the framework will be optional for developers to follow but will be mandatory later. “The projects opting for this initiative will feature prominently on the MahaRERA website, ensuring that prospective allottees are informed during their decision-making process,” a MahaRERA official said.
As per the provisions of the RERA Act, homebuyers can bring to notice the defects in the quality of construction, and developers are mandated to fix the same within 30 days. However, the defect liability period is limited to five years from the date of possession.
The framework proposes the appointment of third-party agencies to determine the quality of construction before giving possession to homebuyers. In the consultation paper, the MahaRERA has advocated Third Party Quality Monitoring that aims to guarantee construction quality right from the outset, rather than address costly, time-consuming, and distressing defects after the work is done.
Citizens’ group representatives said the appointment of a third-party agency would eliminate their need to raise quality-related issues with the authorities. Advocate Godfrey Pimenta from the Watchdog Foundation said, “The proactive step taken by the authority is a welcome move.”
A Credai member, on the condition of anonymity, said while developers do follow the norms, an additional check from the authority will ensure the construction is of topmost quality.
