#WeeklyNewsRoundup: Govt Slashes GST Rates On 66 Goods And Services

The Centre has in coordination with states has decided to lower GST rates on 66 goods and services, apart from easing the compliance burden for small businesses as they raced to be ready to launch the Goods and Services Tax from July 1. The 66 items rates of which have been lowered include hybrid cars, sanitary napkins, telephone bills and ships manufactured in the country.

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The Uttar Pradesh Housing and Urban Planning Department has initiated the process of registering all development authorities and developers under the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016. The task of designing an exclusive website for this purpose has been given to Awas Bandhu.

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Rajasthan Urban Development and Housing Department has eased the restrictions on the construction of houses and buildings close to defence establishments. Now, it would not be mandatory for owners to obtain a no-objection certificate to carry out construction activity within 500 metres of any army camp in the state.

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The Maharashtra government is planning to sell 50,000 vacant houses in Mahul, Trombay and Vidyavihar. These houses, measuring 250 sqft each, were built by the MHADA for those affected by projects undertaken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority for building roads, Metros, gardens, etc.

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National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the environment ministry, Delhi and Haryana governments, the municipal corporation of Gurugram, Ansal Properties and Infrastructure and others on the construction of apartments located in the eco-sensitive Aravalli area. The tribunal is hearing a plea that claims that there had been an encroachment and construction on 'Khasra no 75', which is a designated hilly land unfit for cultivation.

Source: Media reports