Pune: civic group demanded that State Cooperative Department Get Started Online Portal To allow all apartments to be registered on the lines of co-operative housing societies, to take suggestions from all members for amendment of the Act. Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act, 1970.
A letter in this regard was sent to the state cooperative department on August 30, following which the department sought suggestions for changes in the Act. Officials said they had received over 150 suggestions last month, mostly from Pune, Mumbai, Thane and Nagpur. These suggestions will be submitted to the state government by the end of September after proper discussions with all stakeholders.
More than 1 lakh buildings in Maharashtra are under illegal construction. Apartment Act,
State cooperative commissioner and housing society registrar Deepak Taware told the Times of India that the suggestions received were mainly related to maintenance, complaint portal and land transfer issues. The department also intends to study the apartment acts executed in other states before submitting a final proposal.
“We will consider the suggestions and hold another meeting with all stakeholders before sending the final draft to the state government,” Taware said, who is heading a 10-member committee that is considering feedback on the Act.
These demands have been raised by Citizens for Area Sabha, a group of citizens that focuses primarily on policy advocacy, addressing issues affecting civic governance and related matters. One of its members, Ravindra Sinha, said the initiative to seek suggestions is a good step but more representation is needed. “How can a committee make meaningful recommendations without adequate information about the number of registered or unregistered or functional or defunct apartment associations? How many apartment associations has this committee approached or consulted? If the beneficiaries of these amendments are unaware of the proposed changes in the Act, it becomes impossible to get direct feedback,” the letter to the state cooperative commissioner said. The All India Grahak Panchayat has also sent recommendations highlighting various issues about apartment deeds.
Need for amendment
The Apartment Act comes under the Housing Department. However, after the 2020 amendment, the Cooperative Department has been given limited powers to address the grievances of apartment associations and their members
The declaration is registered by the builder with the sub-registrar. However, the housing department or the cooperative department have no record of it.
As a result, the state lacks the necessary information about the number of registered/unregistered and functional or defunct apartment associations in Maharashtra, which is crucial for amending the Act.
In the letter, members have urged a more inclusive approach, including an online portal to submit their recommendations.
demands
Online portal to collect information about apartments in the state
The state should collect this information and inform the district sub-registrar
Apartment associations should be provided with the necessary documents to prepare their recommendations regarding the Act
Rules for allowing apartment associations to shift to co-operative housing societies
