Karnataka RERA's website lacks many details

The formation of a permanent Real Estate Regulatory Authority in Karnataka (KRERA) has raised the hopes of home-buyers waiting for a strong monitoring agency for real estate. The new body, however, is yet to bring in transparency by adopting information technology. A quick look at the KRERA website gives out basic information about the agency, the list of RERA registered projects, unregistered projects, etc. But the website misses out on some crucial information that homebuyers have been demanding. While the website puts out the list of complaints against project proponents, copies of the complaints are not available. Same is the case with order copies. Judgement copies are not uploaded real time or after a short gap of the authority pronouncing a judgement. In addition, getting through the portal itself is complex unlike in other states like Maharashtra where the portal gives direct access to anyone looking for information. Karnataka’s RERA website is password and username protected, thereby limiting access to prospective and existing buyers, or anyone else. MS Shankar, secretary of the Forum for People’s Collective Efforts, said that one of the main concerns of homebuyers is the lack of quarterly update of registered housing projects on the website. “Publishing quarterly update on the website is crucial as it helps buyers to take decisions based on verifiable projects status. It will let prospective buyers know the status of projects, sold and available housing units and help them make a decision,” Shankar said. Though the RERA has mandated registered projects to submit quarterly updates, the details are not put online.