Tag: Cuttack

InfrastructureLatest Stories

Cuttack to Demolish All Unsafe Buildings, Says Odisha Minister

Representative AI image BHUBANESWAR: On Tuesday, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra informed the assembly that all unsafe buildings identified in Cuttack will be demolished to mitigate potential hazards and ensure public safety. In response to a written query during the winter session, Mahapatra stated, “A special committee has been formed to evaluate the structural integrity of buildings across all 59 wards under the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC).” The committee is conducting surveys to assess the structural safety of buildings in the ancient urban landscape, which features numerous aging and potentially unsafe structures. “The survey will yield a…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Cuttack housing project faces ₹10 crore unpaid GST liability

BHUBANESWAR: The commissionerate of commercial tax (CT) and GST in Cuttack has identified an outstanding GST liability of approximately Rs 10 crore related to a significant housing project undertaken by a promoter in collaboration with the Cuttack Development Authority (CDA). This amount pertains to unpaid taxes on the transfer of development rights (TDR) for a land parcel designated for private development. Investigators noted that while other dues have been cleared, this liability remains unsettled. As detailed in the tax evasion report, the project operates under a joint development agreement, where the developer has built affordable housing consisting of 550 units…

Latest StoriesRera

Odisha REAT Fines Developer for Unfair Trade Practices

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Real Estate Appellate Tribunal (OREAT) recently issued a groundbreaking ruling, referencing Shakespeare’s notorious moneylender Shylock from *The Merchant of Venice*, and imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh on a real estate developer. The tribunal was reviewing an appeal from the promoter of a large real estate project situated in Cuttack alongside NH-16. The tribunal criticized the developer’s actions as “dubious,” accusing them of “unfair trade practices” against the buyer. The appeal was made by the project promoter contesting an earlier ruling by the Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA). The complainant had paid over ₹3.19 crore for…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Orissa HC Rescinds Inquiry, Restores PMAY-G Benefits

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has overturned a government inquiry report that deemed several beneficiaries ineligible for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–Gramin (PMAY-G). The court ruled the inquiry did not adhere to established guidelines and was therefore invalid. Ten residents from Gopinathpur panchayat in Bhadrak district challenged the government’s decision to deny them PMAY-G benefits. An initial block-level inquiry identified 258 eligible beneficiaries, including the petitioners, with the gram sabha approving their names on January 30, 2023. Consequently, work orders were issued on June 19, 2023, and some beneficiaries received the first installment of ₹40,000. However, Malatilata Sahoo, a village…

Latest StoriesResidential

Odisha Launches ₹500–1,500 Monthly Rental Homes for All

Representative AI image BHUBANESWAR: Tenants, especially students and the urban poor, can breathe a sigh of relief as the housing and urban development department launches an innovative rental housing project across multiple urban centers in the state. The project aims to provide quality accommodation for targeted beneficiaries, with affordable rent ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per month. Several rental housing complexes are currently being constructed in Odisha, with one already operational in Bhubaneswar. According to official data, Bhubaneswar hosts three such projects: a 200-bed facility in Kharvel Nagar and two 100-bed facilities in Shampur and Chandrasekharpur. Additionally, the…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Odisha HC Cancels Land Deals in Baniapat Khuntapada, Keonjhar

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has annulled several land transactions pertaining to 4.40 acres of shared ancestral property in Baniapat Khuntapada and Keonjhar. The court noted that these transactions were marred by the intentional exclusion of heirs and procedural irregularities. As a result, the court has instructed the Keonjhar district collector to investigate the irregularities and take disciplinary measures against responsible officials. Additionally, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been ordered to halt any compensation payments for the land designated for a highway project and to recover any funds already disbursed. In a ruling dated July 18, Justice…

Latest StoriesRera

Odisha RERA Establishes CDR Cell for Dispute Resolution

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Real Estate Regulatory Authority (ORERA) has announced the establishment of a Conciliation and Dispute Resolution (CDR) cell at its office. This CDR cell aims to serve as a platform for distressed homebuyers and promoters to resolve disputes amicably, minimizing the need for prolonged legal battles. ORERA attempted a similar initiative in January of last year, but it was not operational due to a lack of government approval. This time, following approval from the housing and urban development department, the CDR cell has been officially notified. “In line with Section 32 (g) of the Real Estate (Regulation and…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

NGT Launches Probe into Illegal Sand Mining in Dhenkanal

CUTTACK: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has mandated an investigation into alleged illegal sand mining at a quarry located along the Brahmani River in Dhenkanal district. This directive arose during a Friday hearing regarding a petition from a Talcher-based NGO, alleging that 11.80 acres of sand was being mined illegally at Gunadei village under Odapada tehsil, in violation of various environmental regulations. The petitioners’ legal representatives, Sankar Prasad Pani and Ashutosh Padhy (participating virtually), asserted the project was breaching the Sustainable Sand Mining Management Guidelines, 2016, established by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The NGT’s east…

Latest StoriesRegulatory

Odisha HC’s Ruling Boosts Real Estate, Safeguards Homebuyers

BHUBANESWAR: Recent orders from the Orissa High Court, largely favoring homebuyers, are poised to transform the real estate landscape in Bhubaneswar. Experts believe this signals a decline in developer monopolies. The court issued a stay on the construction of an access road by a developer for his new project, responding to a plea from an allottee’s association from a major housing initiative at Paikarapur in Kalinga Nagar. The roadwork was reportedly undertaken within the common areas of the existing housing project. The developer was advancing the housing project in phases, a detail withheld from the original project owners. Allegations arose…