The state government might bring in a housing regulatory authority

In order to keep a tab on illegal builders, the state government established Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). Likewise, the state might give a green signal to set up a separate regulatory authority dedicated to housing societies. This will help housing societies to resolve grievances by drafting a separate chapter dedicated to housing in the Cooperatives Act. Also, this will provide judicial powers to the regulatory authority so that people don’t go to court over minor matters.

Last year, in February, the government appointed a committee to suggest changes. The committee is led by Sandeep Deshmukh joint registrar for cooperatives and slum rehabilitation and experts such as Ramesh Prabhu and Chhaya Ajgaonkar.

On Thursday, the state cabinet decided to incorporate a separate section 154(b) in Maharashtra Cooperative Societies Act (MCSA), 1960 that will govern housing societies independently separating them from profit-making cooperative societies such as sugarcane factories, credit societies, and banks.

As per the recommendation, the proposal has been sent to the state government and the latter might approve the same, said Ramesh Prabhu, member of the committee. He added that if regulatory authority gets an approval then the society members and housing societies will be benefitted.