Bill passed in state Assembly to ensure transparent policies

Kolkata: The West Bengal Housing Industry Regulation Bill, 2017 was passed in the Assembly on Wednesday to provide a transparent policy in the housing sector thereby protecting the interest of the buyers.

The step was taken after considering the need for quality and affordable housing in the real estate sector. Within a period of one year after the Bill turns into an Act, the state government will establish the West Bengal Housing Industry Regulatory Authority (WBHIRA) to exercise the powers conferred on it.

The state government will also set up an Appellate Tribunal known as West Bengal Housing Industry Appellate Tribunal where an aggrieved person can make an appeal.

All the promoters have to register their projects with the Housing Industry Regulatory Authority. They have to furnish all necessary details about the proposed housing complexes. No promoter shall advertise, market, book, sell or offer for sale or invite persons to purchase any plot, apartment or building in any real estate project or part of it without registering the projects with the WBHIRA.

This will also create an atmosphere to encourage private investment in the state's housing and real estate sector with an emphasis on the guiding principles of "housing for all". Since the 'housing' comes under the periphery of the 'industry', it is contemplated that the state government should for its own legislation consider the necessity and local requirements.

The new legislation will ensure that the whole procedure of the buying and selling of plots, apartments or buildings must be done in a transparent manner so that it protects the interests of the consumers in the real estate sector and will also establish a mechanism for speedy dispute redressal.

While discussing on the Bill in the Assembly, the state Housing minister Sovan Chatterjee on Wednesday said that if any promoter fails to provide a flat to a customer within the stipulated time, there will be a provision to slap a fine on him. There will also be provision so that the accused promoter may be prosecuted.

There are allegations that promoters do not hand over the flats to the consumers within the time that were promised. The main purpose of the legislation is to keep the interest of the buyers at a higher ground. All the promoters have to furnish all the necessary details regarding their projects to the WBHIRA. They have to clearly mention the stipulated time within which they have to handover the flats to the consumers.

It has often been alleged that many people claim themselves as real estate developers and dupe the customers of a huge amount of money with fake promises of providing them flats. The new legislation will be able to check such incidents.

Chatterjee also assured the House that no construction will be allowed through filling up of waterbodies. He also mentioned in the Assembly that the Chief Minister has given a clear instruction in this regard and no housing complexes will be allowed without going through the clearances issued by various departments.

Chattterjee also criticised the erstwhile Left Front government for indiscriminately filling up ponds and waterbodies to construct buildings.