Mumbai: Forget skeletons, a criminal probe into the functioning of the Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation (KIDC) may reveal an entire graveyard.

The Chenara minor dam project in state water resources minister Sunil Tatkare’s bastion, Roha in Raigad district, reveals shocking instances of how officials shifted the goal post several times to push it through. The project was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar in October, 2011. Documents accessed by TOI show the project was initially planned to irrigate 1,440 hectares, but subsequently reduced to 250 hectares when officials realized that permissions would be difficult to get. The dam’s height, which was fixed at 44.20m, was shortened to 28.95m.

Builders to be given sops, including waiver of fees

At a time when the property prices have skyrocketed in the urban areas, affordable housing may well be within the reach of the ‘aam aadmi’ in Haryana. In fact, with a view to attract the private builders to go in for affordable housing, the Hooda Government is set to launch its ambitious "Affordable Housing Policy-2013" to provide housing to the lower strata of society with an eye on the forthcoming parliamentary and the state Assembly elections next year.

Drops plans to take up project under PPP model

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has decided not to take up the proposed ‘golden quadrilateral’ project to construct 25-kilometres of elevated road in the City under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as planned earlier. In the budget 2013-14, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar had announced the proposal to take up the golden quadrilateral project to reduce traffic snarls in the City.

Despite attractive schemes being launched by mid and premium segment residential and plotting projects, the Ahmedabad real estate market is witnessing a consistent growth only in the affordable housing segment in the sub-Rs 10 lakh and sub-Rs 5 lakh category, say developers and experts alike.

According to experts, over 60 per cent of the close to 10,000 residential units being added up in next few months fall in the affordable housing segment, which is the sub-Rs 10 lakh and sub-Rs 15 lakh category. "There are simultaneous mid-premium and premium residential projects as well as plotting projects being launched in Ahmedabad.

Social activist Medha Patkar and 20 persons were arrested on Thursday for protesting against the demolition of slums at Golibar in Khar, in suburban Mumbai.

NEW DELHI: Delhi's forest department has filed a police complaint against "unknown persons" for building three roads cutting across the Rajokri forest in the southern Ridge area.

In a move that may bring relief to developers, the Ministry of Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation has decided to keep commercial offices and shops/malls out of the purview of the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Bill.

The Bill, in the making for about five years now, will only regulate the housing sector, said a senior ministry official. The current draft Bill mandates developers to keep aside about 70 per cent of the collected amount from buyers in a separate account. The ministry may lower the limit to 50 per cent or make it construction-linked.

In a bid to drive out the highways sector from a severe financial crunch, the Economic Survey proposed to ease exit norms for developers to free up equity for new projects.

“In current market conditions, these firms are unable to raise new equity. Exit route needs to be eased so that promoters can sell equity positions after construction, passing on all benefits and responsibilities to entities that step in,” the survey, presented in Parliament on Wednesday said.

Faced with environmental hurdles in pushing vertical growth in the state, the Kerala government last month amended its municipal building rules to change the very definition of 'high-rise' buildings to get around the stringent new requirements for a green nod.

Kerala and some other states have strongly opposed the union environment ministry's 'Guideline for High Rise Buildings' brought in through a February 7 notification on the recommendation of its Expert Appraisal Committee on Building/Construction, Infrastructure and CRZ Projects.