Maharashtra Deploys 12 Officers to Accelerate Rs 912 Crore MahaRERA Recovery for Homebuyers

NAGPUR: In a major boost for distressed homebuyers, the Maharashtra government has appointed 12 senior recovery officers to speed up the enforcement of recovery warrants issued by the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) against errant builders.

These officers have been placed under the supervision of district collectors across six major districts, with the aim of fast-tracking the compensation process as per the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966.

Sources from the state revenue department said the move follows sustained pressure from homeowners struggling with delayed payments despite favourable MahaRERA rulings.

Acting on assurances made by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the government issued a resolution on April 22, promising to clear all pending recovery cases within three months.

Under Section 40(1) of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, MahaRERA holds the authority to issue recovery warrants to facilitate property attachments and compensation recoveries.

While the law applies to both developers and buyers, the majority of the 1,342 warrants issued so far target defaulting developers. However, district collectors, especially in Mumbai, Thane, and Pune, have acted on only 316 warrants, raising concerns among homebuyers.

As per MahaRERA data, Rs 912.11 crore has been sanctioned in compensation across the state, but only Rs 222.13 crore has been recovered, leaving Rs 689.98 crore still pending.

Notably, six districts — Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburban, Thane, Pune, Palghar, and Raigad — account for Rs 684.56 crore of the outstanding amount. Mumbai Suburban alone is responsible for Rs 325.43 crore, followed by Pune at Rs 177.37 crore.

Nagpur, meanwhile, has shown better results, recovering Rs 9.66 crore out of the Rs 10.9 crore awarded in 20 cases, indicating a higher recovery efficiency compared to other regions.

According to MahaRERA officials, the newly appointed officers — comprising experienced revenue officials — will focus on enforcing recovery warrants more aggressively, attaching properties, and providing regular reports to the state government and MahaRERA.

The government resolution also assigns clear responsibilities to the coordinating officers to ensure smoother recovery operations and improve accountability.

Officials added that the move aligns with central government guidelines issued on January 1, 2024, which call for stronger enforcement of real estate regulations to protect consumers.

The digitally authenticated state directive, issued under the governor’s authority, signals a renewed commitment to delivering much-needed relief to thousands impacted by stalled projects and non-compliant developers.

While the appointments have raised hopes among homebuyer groups, the real test will be how swiftly and effectively the newly designated officers can act on the backlog of cases.