The Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA) has started penalising violators, imposing a fine of 1 lakh on two real estate companies for failing to register with the Authority.

The move follows an inquiry by the Authority on the companies, following a complaint on delay in handing over of projects to buyers. “A group of buyers sent a complaint to TNRERA, claiming that the projects were delayed by more than four years by Marg Constructions and Marg Properties. We summoned the officials from the two companies. They appeared before the Authority. It was proved that the companies have failed to apply before the cut-off date of July 31. So the companies have been penalised,” said an official.

Around 100 complaints

Officials said penal action was expected against more violators in a few days. The number of projects registered with TNRERA is around 100. As the number is small, the Authority has been screening all planning permission applications made to the Directorate of Town and Country Planning and the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority in the last two years.

Affected buyers can make any complaint with the Authority. The RERA office is located at the CMDA office on the third floor of the Thalamuthu Natarajan Maaligai, Egmore.

The Government of India notified the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, providing for establishing RERA and Appellate Tribunal for monitoring and adjudicating disputes on real estate projects and also to frame rules under this Act.

Officials said some of the developers had not registered even as registration of all real estate projects and real estate agents was mandatory. No sale in a real estate project can be made without registration of the project with RERA. These rules would apply to all ongoing projects and future projects where the area of land exceeded 500 square meters or the number of apartments proposed to be developed exceeded eight.