Govt advises states, UTs to extend time-bound realty permissions validity by 9 months

MUMBAI: In the backdrop of disruption caused by Covid19 pandemic, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs has issued an advisory to states and union territories to extend the timelines of various time-bound permissions, No Objection Certificates, approval related to realty construction projects by 9 months automatically.
This will be applicable to various clearances--both that are valid for a limited period or otherwise--provided by different agencies including landowning agencies, building plan approval section of municipal corporations, state pollution control board, traffic and transportation department, environmental committees, defense, railway and airport authorities, showed the notification issued by the ministry.

The ministry has issued this advisory after holding discussions with state governments, municipal corporations and NOC issuing central agencies earlier this week following representations from various stakeholders requesting for such extension for a period of minimum 9 months.

During this discussion, it was noted that adverse impact on real estate projects is due to pandemic which is the calamity caused by nature and should be considered as a force majeure situation, said the notification tweeted by Durga Shanker Mishra, secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs.

Some states such as Maharashtra, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and have already extended time limits related to various approvals for building construction.

Earlier this month, the government advised state authorities to extend the completion and registration validity timelines for real estate projects by 6 months across the country by treating Covid19 pandemic as force majeure under the Real estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016. State-specific RERA authorities can extend this further by 3 more months. Many states have announced this six-month extension.