STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The AREIDA (Assam Real Estate & Infrastructure Developers Association) has welcomed the decisions of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to address on various issues of the State and its masses.
AREIDA president P.K.Sharma, applauded "the dynamic and able leadership of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the path-breaking initiatives his government has taken in solving several vital issues of public interest that had been gathering dust in government files during the past several years due to red tapism".
The AREIDA added though permission of the the DC's office was made mandatory way back in 2010 for the sale of built-up property, it did not serve any purpose. The move only created backlog of thousands of files in the Circle office and the tables of the Lat Mondols. It choked government revenue. Moreover, flat purchasers as well as promoters faced intense harassment.
"The public failed to understand as to why the Lat Mondol's report was required for the sale of apartments — which was unheard of anywhere else in the country. Following our request, several instructions were issued by the government over the years to streamline the process. But these remained only on paper; and, the 'Lot Mondols' held the system to ransom, alleged the AREIDA.
The organisation added, "Finally in a well thought-out move, the State cabinet amended the 'Registration Act-2009' to exclude the "house, flat, residential apartment, commercial building or any construction or structure erected on a plot of land" from the requirement of DC office permission. This is a great step in public interest which will not only contribute significantly to government revenue but also provide a big relief to the suffering public.
"Further, the outdated and obsolete 'Assam Urban Rent Control Act-1949' has been replaced by the 'Assam Tenency Act-2021', which has been already approved by the State Cabinet. It aims to promote an inclusive and sustainable ecosystem for various segments of society including migrants, formal and informal sector workers, professionals, students and urban poor. It also outlines the roles of various stakeholders. With this, the high vacant stock of total residential houses can be brought within the fold of formal rental housing.
"The main reasons for conflicts in landlord-tenant relationships was fear of illegal occupation, non-payment and late payment of rent, damage to property, decades of litigation in court procedures etc. Now the new law aims to balance the interests of landowners and tenants with speedy and transparent disposal of disputes and is a most welcome development."
The AREIDA further stated, "Another significant reform is the rationalization of duties payable for rent/lease deeds which is at the rate of 8.5% for registration charges and at the rate of aproximately 6% for stamp duty — which was the highest in India; and hence, the parties were forced to operate informally without registering such deeds. It has now been reduced to 1 to 3% and has brought Assam at par with rest of the country. Evidently with this reform, the lease holder would be happy to operate formally with duly registered documents and a huge amount of revenue will accrue to the government regularly."
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