No action against builders in case of mishaps on construction sites: Maharashtra CM

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday formally announced that no criminal action would be taken against developers in case of accidents on construction sites. On July 9, Pune Mirror reported about the closed-door meeting Fadnavis had held with builders from the city, where he had dropped hints about the decision. Fadnavis was in Pune for a series of engagements on Monday. During one of the programmes, builders and Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (Credai) members raised the issue with him. Responding to it, the Chief Minister clarified, “If there is an accident on a construction site, the builder is booked for culpable homicide. But through this law, they are getting harassed, which is not fair. An accident should be treated as an accident. We have now decided that no case would be filed against the builder in such matters. We have published a government resolution and are also instructing the police not to act.” While developers have welcomed the decision, activists alleged that the Chief Minister had surrendered to the pressure of the builders’ lobby. On July 8, Fadnavis told members of Marathi Bandhkam Vyawasayik and Credai that those who are registered under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, will not be booked under the Maharashtra Ownership of Flats Act (MOFA).