Home buyers rile against 'inept' real estate authority

Complaining of harassment from builders, around a hundred home buyers got together on Sunday to vent their ire on Rera-K, real estate developers and the state government.

This was the first meeting since Rera-K’s formation on July 10, 2017. Buyers said that though the government formed Rera, it failed to appoint permanent officials. Rera officials are powerless and do not follow the Rera Act.

Clearly troubled and having no other way to solve the issues, buyers agreed to submit a memorandum to Housing Minister U T Khader and approach the High Court of Karnataka. They have also planned a protest against the government on December 1.

At the meeting, buyers noted that a mere 470 cases were adjudicated out of the 1,200 filed at Rera-K. They said 400 of those cases ended in a compromise between buyers and builders.

Cases were filed against 40 housing projects in Bengaluru. Despite signing the compromise papers, buyers are yet to get the money from builders and are left homeless. Only two cases are pending in Bengaluru before the appellate authority.

“Most buyers said they don’t know what to do if builders do not follow Rera orders. This meeting was held to hear the buyers’ grievances and make them aware of their rights. Buyers don’t know that there is an appellate authority where matters can be referred to,” said M S Shankar, Rera activist and secretary of Fight for Rera-Forum for People’s Collective Efforts.

A buyer said only a few came forward to open up about their grievances although the association has 3,000 members. “This is because they fear the builders,” said the buyer, requesting anonymity.

“We suffered so much that we were forced to file a police complaint against the builder to seek protection. Most builders are backed by politicians and behave like goons. Some have even approached the high court against Rera orders and buyers, arguing that Rera-K has no jurisdiction over them,” the buyer added.