PUNE: Recovery warrants issued by the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) are being executed slowly across the state, with only one-third of the total amount owed to homebuyers being recovered to date.
Recent official data indicates that out of Rs 791.55 crore due across 1,287 complaints, only Rs 262.68 crore has been recovered (approximately 33%).
According to district-level data from MahaRERA, Mumbai suburban tops the list with Rs 351.75 crore due but has collected merely Rs 109.71 crore, with 479 complaints recorded. Mumbai city ranks second, recovering Rs 53.11 crore against Rs 104.14 crore from 47 complaints. Pune, also a major real estate center, has managed only Rs 46.99 crore out of Rs 195.91 crore due from 274 complaints. Thane has realized Rs 23.33 crore from Rs 74.63 crore due related to 237 complaints, while Raigad has recovered Rs 9.51 crore against dues of Rs 24.85 crore from 119 complaints.
Homebuyers awaiting the execution of recovery warrants have expressed frustration over the sluggish process, which is preventing timely relief. One Pune-based allottee, whose recovery warrant was issued nearly a year ago, shared, “Our money is stuck, and the collector’s office is slow to act.”
Another homebuyer, Rohit Wade, lamented that despite having multiple favorable orders, not a single rupee has been recovered. “According to the original agreement, the interest due to us for delayed possession amounts to about Rs 72 lakh. Even under MahaRERA’s final order, approximately Rs 26 lakh in interest remains unpaid. Currently, based on the order, the total interest owed stands at around Rs 45.67 lakh,” he stated, highlighting the lack of resolution.
District collectors are responsible for executing MahaRERA recovery warrants as per the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code. However, officials acknowledge that delays often arise from administrative workloads, legal challenges, and complications related to attaching properties or bank accounts.
Housing activists have criticized the low recovery rate as indicative of a systemic enforcement failure. “Recovering only around 33% of the mandated amount years after warrants are issued indicates a weak mechanism. A favorable order holds little value for homebuyers unless the funds are actually recovered,” remarked Pune-based activist S Joshi.
This issue was addressed during the monsoon session of the state assembly, where revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule assured the House that the execution of MahaRERA recovery warrants would be expedited. However, the current recovery pace contradicts that promise.
