Builders must get occupancy papers soon: DM to Authority

NOIDA: Gautam Budh Nagar's district magistrate N P Singh has written to the Noida Authority requesting it to ask developers to obtain occupancy certificates.

According to Singh, the developers are delaying the handing over of flats to homebuyers, using the excuse of the eco-sensitive zone around the Okhla bird sanctuary. This is leading to a revenue loss for the government. The government will earn nearly Rs 450 crore once over 80,000 flats, falling within the 10-km radius of the sanctuary, are registered.

In his letter (a copy of which is with TOI), the district magistrate has said that home buyers are in a state of panic as they have still not got possession of their flats, despite the Centre notifying the eco-sensitive zone around the sanctuary. His contention is that builders have defaulted on their payment - remaining portion of the land cost - to the Noida Authority, without which they won't get occupancy certificates, and without which they can't hand over buildings to homebuyers.

"Due to the delay in registration of properties, the stamp and registration department could not achieve the revenue target," the letter said.

When contacted, Singh said, "I have written a letter to the Noida Authority to take necessary action into the matter so that relief homebuyers get relief and the stamp and registration department achieves its revenue target."

Officials of the UP stamp and registration department also said that the department could not achieve the desired stamp duty against the registry of those flats, which got delayed because it took time to demarcate the eco-sensitive zone around the sanctuary. The officials said more than two weeks have passed but so far no registry has taken place because the developers have not obtained occupancy certificates from the Noida Authority. "The department was expecting revenue on account of stamp duty, but so far no flat has been registered," UP stamp and registration department's deputy inspector general Arvind Singh Chandel said.

Source: Times of India