Patna: Builders and developers who still have not registered their ongoing projects with the real estate regulatory authority (Rera), Bihar, can do so till May 31 after paying a fine.

Rera Bihar chairman Afzal Amanullah shared this information with the press on Friday. "A minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed on those registering projects latest by May 31 and the fine amount can go up to value of the registration fee," Amanullah said.

Under the provision of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, builders and developers needed to register ongoing projects by July 31 last year, but after the state government gave a few extensions, April 30 was fixed as the last date of registration.

Amanullah said that after the new May 31 deadline, the authority will commence penal action against violators. Under the provisions of the real estate Act, such defaulters could be awarded jail term of up to three years.

Rera received application for registration of 345 ongoing projects till April 30 out of which hard copies of 181 projects had been submitted by the builders. Those who have applied for registration will have to submit hard copies of the document within a week failing which fines will be imposed. Over 90 per cent of the 345 applications are for projects in Patna. Applications have also been received from Muzaffarpur, Purnea, Gaya and Bhagalpur.

Amanullah alerted people about unscrupulous builders and developers who were coaxing customers to get their properties registered even though the project had not been completed. "I urge all such customers to ask builders for Rera registration number. I would also suggest that people file complaints with us if builders are putting any kind of pressure to get the incomplete projects registered in the name of customers," said the Rera chairman."

He also said that a letter had been sent to the registration department for checking activities of such builders. One more thing has come to the notice of Rera Bihar, which is related to projects which are coming up in areas which don't fall under the planning area of local authority. "A letter has been sent to the government for notification of all such areas," Amanullah said.

As far as collecting information about the ongoing projects is concerned, Rera has written to the urban development and housing department and also to all district magistrates to provide information about the maps approved for different projects and based on the information gathered the authority would start action against those builders and developers who have not registered their ongoing projects registered with it.