If projects, residential or industrial, are registered with MahaRERA, the authority needs to adjudicate grievances of consumers who have bought a flat or unit in them, which unfortunately is not happening today. Taking cognizance of the mid-day article ‘Do Industrial estates, units come under the ambit of RERA? (October 28), the Bar Association of MahaRERA has stated that if projects are registered under MahaRERA, the tribunal needs to adjudicate the grievances of industrial unit buyers and protect their rights as consumers—as it does for flat buyers—else, the very purpose of industrial projects getting registered under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) is meaningless for consumers but may benefit developers, and moreover, setting up industries and creating job opportunities—which is the need of the hour—will get hampered in the long run as businessmen may be reluctant to buy such industrial units.

The Bar Association of MahaRERA has sought clarity from both the Central and state government on the subject, as RERA is a Central act but the rules are framed by states. Advocate Anil D’Souza, hon secretary, Bar Association of MahaRERA, said, “The Central government has enacted this welfare legislation for the benefit of all stakeholders, the seller (builder) and buyer (allottee) alike. And it’s now up to the government, to once again step in and give additional clarity and a clear-cut definition to the inclusion of ‘industrial units’ per se in all laws pertaining to the buying and selling of industrial units.”