The Bihar chapter of Confederation of Real Estate Developers’ Associations of India (Credai) will raise issues faced by the builders during the upcoming Credai conclave in New Delhi.

Credai has claimed that construction activities have been completely stalled in Patna over the past one year because Patna Municipal Corporation has stopped approving building maps.

“No new construction has started in the city for the past one year because the PMC is not approving any map and building plan, which is necessary for commencing construction. Also, the civic body is incapable of conducting survey of buildings suspected of being constructed in violation of bye-laws because of manpower shortage. The filled posts against the sanctioned strength of engineers in PMC are very low. Consequently, the survey work as directed by Patna High Court is getting unnecessarily delayed, in the name of which, even genuine constructions are not being allowed,” said Narendra Kumar, the chairman of the Bihar chapter of Credai.

He added that deliberations would be held on such issues during the Credia Conclave, 2013, in Delhi on December 13 and 14. The theme of the conclave is “Housing: The Game Changer; leading to double digit growth”.

Connecting the implications of the ongoing slowdown in the real estate market in Patna on growth of the state, Sachin Chandra, the secretary of Credai, Bihar chapter, said: “The real estate market supports nearly 300 allied activities and products, which are affected in Patna at present. The sale of construction material, including cement, steel, and many others must have dipped in the past one year. This must have reduced the sales tax revenue. This is the reason that the sales tax department has suddenly become very strict in collection of taxes from shopkeepers in the city, which has led to temporary unrest among the traders as well.”