The Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) and the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO), along with the Telangana Builders Federation (TBF) and the Telangana Developers Association (TDA), commended A Shanti Kumari, the chief secretary of the Government of Telangana. They recognized her commendable efforts in bringing together the leaders of more than 20 departments involved in granting permissions and streamlining real estate development in the state. This significant collaboration took place at the Secretariat, acknowledging her role in facilitating the process.
The Government of Telangana, in response to CREDAI's initiative, organized a groundbreaking meeting for the real estate industry in Telangana. This meeting, reportedly the first of its kind, aimed to address the concerns of developers and discuss potential solutions. One of the key objectives was to integrate the required permissions on the TS-BPass platform, with the intention of enhancing the business environment and streamlining processes to facilitate ease of doing business in the state.
The delegation comprised esteemed individuals such as Arvind Kumar, the special chief secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development; Dana Kishore, the managing director of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board; Naveen Mittal, the principal secretary of land revenue and registration, who also held the additional charge of chief commissioner of land administration; N Satyanarayana, the chairperson of the Telangana State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TS RERA); Commissioner GHMC, HMDA, HMWS&SB, GST, chief executive officer of TS-Bpass; DG – Fire & Disaster Management; MD – TSSPDCL; IG – Stamps and Registration Department; TSIIC, along with representatives from the Irrigation, Mining, Environment, Pollution Control, Labour departments, as well as officials from various Collectorates and the Police department.
The real estate developers were exceptionally represented by prominent individuals. P Ramakrishna Rao held the position of President in CREDAI Hyderabad, while Sunil Chandra Reddy fulfilled the role of President in NAREDCO Telangana. G V Rao served as the President of the Telangana Developers Association, and C Prabhakar Rao presided as the President of the Telangana Builders Federation. G Anand Reddy held the esteemed position of Vice President in CREDAI Hyderabad, while Aditya Gowra assumed the responsibility of Treasurer in the same organization. Additionally, Vijay Sai Meka served as the Secretary General of NAREDCO Telangana, contributing to the effective representation of real estate developers.
Expressing his thoughts, P Ramakrishna Rao, the president of CREDAI Hyderabad, commended the significant undertaking and emphasized the government's genuine interest in comprehending the challenges and finding resolutions. While acknowledging Telangana's progressive approach with systems like TS-Bpass, he pointed out the existing issues that hinder a seamless process. These issues include concerns related to the master plan, the Dharini portal, and delays in approvals due to ambiguous procedures. In response, suggestions were provided to further streamline and enhance the efficiency of these processes.
In addition, he urged GHMC and HMDA to establish technical helpdesks to promptly address applicants' inquiries and provide clarification on issues for swift resolution and faster project execution. The association also stressed the importance of fully integrating the TS-Bpass platform with the TS RERA platforms. This integration would ensure that statutory project approvals are reflected accurately, facilitating a streamlined process and expediting project approvals.
Rao added, "The officials of the Telangana government were receptive to our concerns, and our representatives have effectively documented the issues raised. We remain optimistic about witnessing positive progress in the near future, which will contribute to further enhancing the business environment in the state."
According to Sunil Chandra Reddy, the president of NAREDCO Telangana, the government has undertaken various initiatives to streamline the approval process and expedite development in order to support the city's growth and accommodate it's rapidly expanding population. However, despite these efforts, there are still certain issues that require attention to further enhance the ease of the process.
Reddy highlighted a specific case, stating, "For instance, obtaining Police NOC is crucial for malls and multiplexes, and currently, 11 approvals are necessary both at the project initiation stage and before commencing operations. We urge the department to reevaluate this requirement and establish a streamlined process. Additionally, we also recommend the appointment of a dedicated officer to address concerns and technical aspects related to the Dharani Portal, ensuring faster resolution of issues for the applicants."
Further highlighting the concerns, G V Rao, the president of the Telangana Developers Association, emphasized that numerous new developments lack proper stormwater drains and sewer networks. As a result, a significant volume of stormwater accumulates, and there is an ongoing need to determine the appropriate discharge outlets for it.
Certain projects are facing issues of excessive stormwater inundation, with difficulties in harvesting or recharging the water due to high rain intensity. Additionally, a substantial amount of recycled water remains unused even after being utilized for flushing and irrigation purposes. Unfortunately, there is no viable method for discharging this excess water or recharging it into the ground.
Rao urged the department to thoroughly examine the issue and propose a viable solution. Furthermore, he pointed out that there is a requirement for the provision of solar PV and hot water systems in projects with over 100 residential units. However, there is a need to specify the capacity of these systems.
Rao further highlighted that implementing solar hot water systems in high-rise residential projects is not a practical solution. The Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) recommends utilizing solar systems for 20% of the hot water demand. However, planning for high-rise buildings poses challenges due to limited rooftop availability and the need for recirculation pumps, among other factors. Therefore, Rao suggested an alternative approach, proposing the installation of solar PV systems based on a percentage of roof coverage, as a more feasible option.
C Prabhakar Rao, the president of Telangana Builders Federation, highlighted the importance of enhancing inclusivity in the TS-BPass system. He emphasized the need for issuing necessary approvals for borewells, temporary electricity connections, and other related aspects concurrently with building permissions. Additionally, he requested the department to address the issue of the 10% mortgage, considering the financial losses incurred by stakeholders.
Rao further pointed out the negative implications of the current practice, which includes the loss of GST revenue due to the sale of units post-receipt of the Occupancy Certificate (OC). He also highlighted the financial burden on builders caused by blocked capital due to delayed bank funding. Additionally, the challenge of selling these remaining units after obtaining the OC was emphasized. Rao expressed hope that the raised issues would be prioritized and appropriately addressed by the concerned departments, ultimately leading to a more favorable business environment.
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