Roads cleared for housing societies to own their plots

Ravikiran Deshmukh

     

Posted On Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 02:49:55 AM

There are approximately 60,000 co-operative housing societies in Mumbai as per government records. But only 2 to 3 per cent of the societies have the piece of land, on which they are situated, in their name. And the rest are at the mercy of builders and landlords, even though flats in it have been sold years ago. However, now with the state law and judiciary department giving its approval for rules prescribed through an amendment to the Maharashtra Ownership of Flats Act-1963, societies can press for the conveyance (change of the title of the land) soon.  “We hope to clear two-three glitches pertaining to the adequate provision of the staff and clearance in stamp duty payment for the conveyance soon, which will be followed by the final publication of rules in the government gazette. The process may be over within a month,” said a senior government official on condition of anonymity.  The state housing department, on Friday made a presentation on the subject, before Chief Minister Ashok Chavan at a meeting in Mantralaya.  According to the procedure prescribed in the MOFA, the developer must go for the conveyance within six months of the formation of the co-operative housing society.  Since most developers have been reluctant to opt for transfer of the land title in the name of society, the state government made the concerned amendment in the MOFA in which a society can file an appeal for deemed conveyance before the district deputy registrar (DDR) of the co-operative societies.  On the receipt of such an appeal, the officer is expected to summon the concerned developer, landlord and hear his side for the delay and give his decision.