Private housing societies operating under the purview of the Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act will soon have the authority to carry out forcible evictions of members who refuse to vacate their flats for redevelopment purposes. The state cabinet, during its session on Tuesday, granted approval to a proposal put forth by the housing department to amend the act, thereby enabling the forceful eviction of members impeding redevelopment initiatives.

The provision for the redevelopment of apartments governed by the Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act of 1970 was initially introduced in July 2018 with the addition of Section 6A. According to this section, buildings that have reached the 30-year mark and are in a state of disrepair are eligible to submit proposals for redevelopment. These proposals can proceed once the apartment association, registered under the act, passes a resolution in a special meeting with a simple majority, as confirmed by a government official.

This amendment is anticipated to streamline and expedite the redevelopment process, which often encounters challenges when some members are unwilling to vacate their units.