Achievements
Every year CREDAI-MCHI prides itself in achieving the very best for all its members and for the industry at large. Some of our notable achievements are listed below.
EXPANSION OF CREDAI-MCHI
By April 1, 2010, the CREDAI-MCHI had just one additional unit (at Thane), besides the main one in Mumbai, and had 605 members. However, over the next 12 months, it added four new units - Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira Road-Virar, Raigad and Navi Mumbai. Total membership shot up to 1,106 in this time period.
KALYAN-DOMBIVALI UNIT
Date of Inception: 31st May 2010
CREDAI-MCHI announces a separate Unit in Kalyan-Dombivli, the fastest growing towns in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) with slew of developers from Mumbai setting up their projects in the region, considering the future prospect of the region. Setting up of CREDAI-MCHI's Unit will bridge the gap between the developers and government agencies as well as the end consumers.
MIRA VIRAR CITY UNIT
Date of Inception: 01st July 2010
Mira - Virar City has witnessed the fastest growth in real estate development thanks in part to good infrastructure, affordable pricing and good residential projects. In fact, these localities continue to contribute the lion's share in the affordable housing in the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
RAIGAD UNIT
Date of Inception: 12th August 2010
Like the others, Raigad too has emerged as one of the fastest growing area in the state and locations such as Panvel, Uran, Alibaug, Karjat emerging as most favored destinations for affordable housing developments in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region(MMR). Considering the potential development in the region, CREDAI-MCHI has set up its unit in order to resolve various issues related to the development of the region.
NAVI MUMBAI UNIT
Date of Inception: 28th March 2011
Mumbai's twin town, built to ease the pressure of the financial capital. Navi Mumbai has seen tremendous growth in the real estate sector over the last few decades. With newer and better townships coming up across the region, MCHI CREDAI opened its first unit in Navi Mumbai on 28th of March 2011. All housing issues related to Navi Mumbai are taken care of.
MAHARASHTRA LIFTS BAN ON IMPORT OF SAND FROM NEIGHBOURING STATES
The Maharashtra government lifted the ban on import of sand from outside Maharashtra, after efforts by CREDAI-MCHI, in convincing the government to take steps to ease the shortage of sand. About five years ago the state government had restrained the import of sand from states such as Gujarat and Rajasthan, where it was available at a cheaper rate. CREDAI-MCHI had sought the government's intervention to redress the acute shortage of sand.
BMC WITHDRAWS CONTROVERSIAL DEMOLITION CIRCULAR
THE Mumbai Municipal Corporation has finally withdrawn the controversial circular, issued on January 15, 2011, which entitled it to demolish any structure constructed beyond the level for which the builder had the commencement certificate (CC). Former Municipal Commissioner, Mr. Subodh Kumar, IAS, agreed to withdraw the circular on Demolition of Works beyond CC, following the meeting CREDAI-MCHI
IN DISCUSSIONS WITH BMC
Within days of the meeting with the Chief Minister, Mr. T. C. Benjamin, Principal Secretary, Urban Development, invited CREDAI-MCHI office-bearers for a meeting. The entire 24-page presentation that was made to the Chief Minister served as the agenda for the meeting, and every issue in the presentation was taken up point by point. Two major outcomes of the meeting included: 2.5 FSI for MHADA, Approved: The draft notification for this has been prepared. It is expected, following the procedure of inviting suggestions/objections, the scheme could be notified by May 2011. 0.33 FSI Premium: Mr. Benjamin has assured that he will take up the issue and facilitate a representation with Chief Secretary, Mr. Ratnakar Gaikwad, and the Chief Minister. We are all hopeful that this opportunity will present itself very soon, and we can look forward to more such positive developments for our members and the industry in the coming weeks.
BMC DEMOLITION CIRCULAR WITHDRAWN
One of the immediate, positive outcomes of the meeting with the Chief Minister at Sahyadri was the prompt withdrawal of the BMC's demolition circular Service Tax: We Deposit : As you are all aware, CREDAI-MCHI had filed a Writ Petition No. 1456 of 2010 in the Bombay High Court. The Court granted a (technical) stay on the collection/payment of Service Tax. In this matter CREDAI-MCHI had taken out a notice of motion for various prayers, including the prayers for depositing Service Tax by the members in Honorable High Court.
Seven per cent Transfer Fee: The Mumbai Municipal Corporation had imposed a seven per cent Transfer Fee. Under the guidance of our stalwart, Mr. Jashwant Mehta, CREDAI-MCHI moved the High Court. In the interim, the Municipal Corporation went ahead and revised the fee upwards to a steep 50 per cent. The case was decided in CREDAI-MCHI's favour, with the court ruling that the Corporation had no power to levy this fee, and it was illegal.
CREDAI-MCHI WORKS TOWARDS ANTI-MALARIA CONSTRUCTION SITES
The Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (CREDAI-MCHI) had last year joined hands with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) in its anti-malaria campaign and had donated Rs.10 lakh to the civic body, besides donating mosquito nets and instructing its members to keep construction sites hygienic and safe.
NATCON SINGAPORE 2011
NATCON 2011, held in Singapore, was a milestone event for CREDAI-MCHI with over 100 CREDAI-MCHI delegates participating in the event. At the event, the Urban Development Ministry stated that it will strive to cut down the number of approvals that a developer needs to start a project, to ensure faster and more efficient functioning in the real estate sector.
Giving this assurance to the industry, Mr. Kamal Nath, former Urban Development Minister, told the leading lights of the sector at the 11th National Convention of Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) that his ministry would bring together the concerned officials of all state governments and developers together on a common platform and push for a mandate of transparency and responsible growth.
NATCON NEW DELHI: ENSURING HOMES FOR ALL
NATCON 2010 was organised in New Delhi on December 16 and 17, 2010, by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Associations of India (CREDAI) a partner organization of MCHI. The theme for Natcon 2010 was 'Homes for all.' The event presented an in-depth perspective about issues and challenges faced by various states in implementing reforms in the real estate sector. CREDAI organised the convention to bring the different stakeholders of the real estate sector - including government representatives - on a common platform. It provided an opportunity for a dialogue between private developers, politicians and bureaucrats from the central and state governments and local bodies, and the finance community (including fund managers, bankers, financial institutions) to roll-out a roadmap to achieve the goal of 'Homes for all.
STREAMLINING ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCES
The MCHI CREDAI led a delegation of the chamber's CRZ & Environment Committee and met Mrs. Valsa Nair Singh, Secretary, Environment Department, Maharashtra government, on February 14, 2011. Mr. Mantri discussed issues relating to the speedy approval of plans, projects in pipeline and implication of the new CRZ notification, the sand dredging issue, the CZMP Plan/CRZ committee, and also other clarifications. Mrs. Nair promised to help resolve these issues, both at the state and central level. And considering the uniqueness of Mumbai and the large size of proposals, the state government had asked the centre for two state-level appraisal committees for environmental matters, she added.
DRIVING CHANGE AT THE GOVT. LEVELS
The Urban Development Ministry, Maharashtra, had through a notification in January 2011 sought suggestions and objections to the proposed modification to the sanctioned Development Control Regulations for implementing the scheme for affordable housing on private lands through private land owners/developers and MHADA. The Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (CREDAI-MCHI), made a series of elaborate suggestions with the qualifying justifications. It also made specific suggestions for municipal corporations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), for municipal councils within the region and for Raigad region. On request of Mr. Sunil Mantri, President, CREDAI-MCHI, Govt. of Maharashtra accepted and announced in assembly that NA permission and collection rights will be transferred to Municipal Corporations. CREDAI-MCHI wrote letter to Govt. of Maharashtra to charge Stamp Duty on Carpet Area basis. This was accepted by govt. and announced in the assembly session.
Doppler Radar Petition
CREDAI-MCHI is delighted to announce our efforts and heard work has finally paid off in regards to the Doppler Radar Petition. Hon'ble High Court passed the order that No NOC is required from the IMD for high rise constructions. MCHI's continuous meetings and discussions with Government Officials & Departments has made this possible.
NA Simplified
The issues of NA permission has finally been solved with the state Government deciding to simplify the old process of seeking permission to convert agricultural land to non agricultural use. Under this, there is no need to take NA permission in cities and towns wherever a DP plan has been approved. There will be no need to take NA permissions from the collector which is highly time consuming. This is a direct result of CREDAI-MCHI's hard work and relentless follow up to the Government Authorities.