Team Herald
PANJIM: In a major decision, the State Cabinet on Wednesday resolved to hand over the charge of Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) to the Urban Development (UD) Department, wherein it will now have to draft, notify rules and appoint an authority to regulate the real estate sector in Goa.
RERA was initially with the Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP), and the department had even drafted rules under the Central Act – Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act – which has been rolled out from May 1 onwards. It has been handed over to UD after the Central Government informed that the real estate regulatory authority has been allocated to the Ministry of Urban Development.
“Since in the Government of India, the real estate regulatory authority is allocated to the Ministry of Urban Development, it is proposed to allocate RERA under the Department of Urban Development by inserting a new entry under the allocation of the business rules,” General Administration Secretary Ranbir Singh said in the cabinet note, which was passed by the council of Ministers.
Speaking to Herald, UD Minister Francis D’Souza said the Urban Development ministry has been made the parent body for RERA following directions from the Central Government. “It is actually part of TCP, I don’t know how it comes under UD. But we have to follow the Central Ministry and accordingly the cabinet has taken the decision,” he said.
D’Souza, a former TCP Minister, said that during his tenure, TCP had drafted RERA rules. “TCP had drafted proper regulations under RERA. We had consultation with stakeholders on the same. I intend to notify the same rules as soon as possible,” he said.
“If the file comes to me by next week, I will clear it this month itself,” he said, adding that Goa is one amongst many states that has failed to notify the regulations till date.
According to Section 85 of the Act, rules are required to be notified by the regulatory authority within three months of its formation.
The Minister said that a body would be put in place to regulate real estate. “The sole purpose of RERA is to protect the interest of the buyers. The Union Government has brought in the legislation to protect home buyers and encourage genuine private players,” he said.
