To address the ever-rising number of issues between the buyers and the builders, the UP RERA has directed the local administrative authorities to setup sub-divisional “conciliation forum.”
In a directive issued by UP RERA secretary, Abrar Ahmed, the development authorities (including Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad) have been asked to submit a list with the name of complainants (home buyers), home buyers associations.
The UP RERA also sought the working area of proposed forums, the head office of conciliation forums etc.
The directive was issued on November 16, and the authorities were given a deadline to submit their lists by November 22.
The directive issued to the development authorities read, “UP RERA has developed a software and it is expected to be made functional by the first week of December. The development authorities are expected to fix the date and identify the place for the meeting of the forum. The authorities are also advised to submit the list of home-buyers associations and officials (working under the UP RERA).”
Each sub-divisional forum would be consisting of five members from home buyers association, five members from Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Association of India (CREDAI) and one member from the concerned development authority.
However, many home buyers were found to be sceptical about the move and called it just an eyewash.
Mentioning about their experiences in several meetings that they had attended in the past since the U P RERA was formed, home buyers alleged that the officials have always crushed their voices and pressurised to compromise with the builder.
“Whenever I have attended such meetings, I was pressurised to compromise with the builder irrespective of whether the builder is wrong or not. So, I do not think home buyers’ would be listened until an independent committee of RERA members takes the issue,” said a home buyer in Greater Noida West.
A resident of a high rise in Noida, P Chandra said that the existing Medieval and Conciliation Cell (MCC) was set up with the same purpose but it remained on papers only. The home buyers continued to suffer.
“It is a superficial act of the government. It does not realise the pain of thousands of home buyers. They are ignorant about the ground reality,” Chandra added.
People also suggested that there should be a deadline for resolution of issues at the sub-divisional forum.
“In the present setup, people are called after 4-5 months to discuss the issue. They are always advised for conciliation with the builder. The cases should be heard within two months,” said Abhisek Kumar, president of NEFOWA.
The Federation of Apartment Owners Association (FedAOA) in Indirapuram has welcomed the step.
“It would provide a platform to the home buyers to raise their concerns with the builders in presence of the authority. However, it would be early to judge whether it will be a success or not. Similar efforts were put in earlier as well but it did not work out,” said Alok Kumar, president of FedAOA.
