#RealtyNewsRoundUp: Environment Clearance Norms Eased For Large-Scale Housing Projects

With an aim to speed up the construction process for affordable homes, the environment ministry has decided to ease green norms for large residential projects. In a notification published on November 15, the ministry has said residential projects with a built-up area between 20,000-50,000 square metre (sqm) would no longer require an environmental clearance. Similarly, urban-local authorities will give clearance to industrial sheds, educational institutions, hospitals and hostels for educational institutions, with a built-up area of 20,000 sqm to 1.5 lakh sqm, and a green clearance would not be required.

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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will launch the Hitech City project in Pune to attract investments worth Rs 21,300 crore. The project will be among the largest township projects by the state government, for which around 5,200 farmers have pool land. The project will be implemented by the Pune Metropolitan Development Authority.

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Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said the government will not amend any provision of the real estate law, and has warned states against tweaking rules of the Centre's version. The minister said any watering down of the provision of the law would lead to "harsh consequences" for states.

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In a move to improve property tax collection, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation is now conducting a naming-and- shaming drive across the city to nab defaulters. The department has shortlisted names of defaulters and has put up “distressed warrant” on the walls of their homes.

Source: Media reports