Maharashtra's state revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced that all pending Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) recovery warrant cases will be resolved within the next three months. This decision comes after it was revealed that, out of a total of 1,342 recovery warrant complaints, only 316 had been executed by the collectorates.
The latest data from MahaRERA shows that Mumbai suburban and Pune districts account for over 60% of the total outstanding recovery amount. Mumbai Suburban alone has 540 complaints amounting to Rs 424.79 crore, of which only Rs 80.49 crore has been recovered. Pune district follows with 274 complaints totalling Rs 219.71 crore. Authorities have managed to recover just Rs 42.31 crore from these cases, leaving a large balance still pending.
Bawankule emphasized the government's commitment to speeding up the process and ensuring justice for affected homebuyers. However, activists have expressed concerns, stating that while the minister's announcement is encouraging, a three-month deadline may not be realistic for cases that have been pending for years. Activist Ramesh Prabhu suggested that MahaRERA should have a more structured tracking system like UP RERA, which uses a portal to track recovery warrant orders. He called for the implementation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and phase-wise recovery execution, rather than vague political promises.
Additionally, MahaRERA has been facing delays in appointing officials to expedite the process. While retired tehsildars were suggested to help clear the backlog in Mumbai suburban and Pune, only one officer has been appointed for the suburban area, and no appointments have been made for Pune.
The MahaRERA recovery warrants are issued under Section 40(1) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, requiring property attachments and dues recovery from errant developers. Despite significant challenges, efforts are being made to address the backlog, and MahaRERA officials are actively following up with the collectors to accelerate execution.