Amid a growing number of flat buyers moving MahaRERA for interest for delayed housing projects, there are concerns over poor implementation of its orders. While some experts say stringent action should be taken against erring developers, others feel a forensic audit of escrow accounts is the need of the hour.

Advocate Akash Menon, who practises in RERA, said, Section 40 of the RERA Act says that if a developer fails to comply with its order, then the amount “shall be recoverable from such developer in such manner as may be prescribed as arrears of land revenue”. He said, “In such cases, RERA issues a recovery certificate in favour of the allottee and directs the tehsildar to commence recovery proceedings against the developer. Additionally, the promoter is also liable to a penalty for every day during which such default continues which may cumulatively extend up to 5 per cent of the estimated cost of the real estate project as determined by the authority.”