Flooded by complaints, RERA gets interim panel

LUCKNOW: With the fledgling UP Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UPRERA) flooded by complaints from homebuyers ever since its launch two days ago, the state government on Friday got an interim sub-committee headed by a special secretary to deal with the rush and look into grievances.

A full-fledged authority with a proper office and staff may still take more than a month.

More than 900 builders/promoters have registered their projects with UPRERA. The website has received more than 3.50 lakh hits since its launch on last Wednesday.

“The response has been overwhelming. Promoters and developers from 20 cities have approached us to get their projects registered with Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) topping the list. More than 100 real estate developers have so far applied from Noida, which incidentally also occupies the top slot from where we have received the maximum number of complaints from homebuyers,” said an official.

He said around 320 real estate agents had got themselves registered with the authority.

“Special secretary, housing, Amitabh Prakash has been made interim secretary of UPRERA and will head this four-member panel that will deal with all dayto-day affairs of the authority,” said a senior housing department official. Principal secretary, housing, Mukul Singhal is already officiating as interim UPRERA chairman. Officials at the helm of affairs admitted that it will be impossible for them to deal with the workload with just four or five staffer.

The search committee formed by the state government to shortlist the names of candidates for UPRERA chairman and members was supposed to meet on Friday but the meeting was cancelled.

“We have received 13 applications for the post of chairman and 37 for the post of members,” confirmed a senior official.

After scrutinising the applications, the search panel will forward the names to the appointments committee headed by the chief justice of the Allahabad high court. The selection process is expected to take more than month’s time.

THE REVISED RERA RULES HAVE BEEN DRAFTED AND WERE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN MAY.