Maharashtra appoints 12 officers to speed up Rs 912 crore MahaRERA recovery for buyers
Maharashtra
Govt appointed 12 senior recovery officers to expedite the enforcement of recovery warrants issued by the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (
MahaRera
) against errant builders. The appointments, made under district collectors in six key districts, are intended to accelerate the compensation process under provisions of the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966.
According to state revenue department sources, the initiative follows sustained pressure from homeowners facing prolonged delays in securing dues despite favourable MahaRera orders. Acting on assurances made by revenue minister
Chandrashekhar Bawankule
, the state issued a govt resolution on April 22, committing to clearing all pending recovery cases within three months.
Under Section 40(1) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, MahaRera is empowered to issue recovery warrants enabling property attachment and compensation recovery. Although these provisions are applicable to both developers and buyers, the bulk of the 1,342 warrants issued so far target defaulting developers. However, district collectors, primarily in
Mumbai
, Thane, and Pune, acted on only 316 warrants to date, leading to mounting concerns among aggrieved buyers.
According to MahaRera data, Rs912.11 crore was sanctioned across the state as compensation to homebuyers. Of this, Rs222.13 crore was recovered, while Rs689.98 crore remains outstanding. Notably, six districts — Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Pune, Palghar, and Raigad — account for Rs684.56 crore of the pending amount. Mumbai Suburban alone represents Rs325.43 crore, followed by Pune at Rs177.37 crore.
Nagpur showed comparatively better performance, with Rs9.66 crore recovered out of the Rs10.9 crore awarded across 20 cases, reflecting a higher efficiency rate than other regions.
Sources from MahaRera told TOI that the newly designated officers, comprising senior revenue officials, will focus on faster enforcement of warrants, property attachments, and structured reporting to the state govt and MahaRERA. The state resolution outlines specific responsibilities for coordinating officers to streamline recovery operations and enhance accountability.
"The move also aligns with central govt guidelines issued on January 1, 2024, emphasising the need for stronger enforcement of real estate regulations to safeguard consumer interests. The state's directive, digitally authenticated under the authority of the governor, marks a renewed commitment to delivering long-overdue relief to thousands affected by stalled projects and regulatory non-compliance," they said.
While the appointments sparked cautious optimism among homebuyers' groups, the real test will lie in the effectiveness and speed with which the new recovery officers can act on pending cases.
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