Environment group calls for action against 14 illegal layouts in the Nilgiris

The Confederation of Environment Associations of Nilgiris (CEAN) has appealed to the Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA) to act against 14 illegal layouts that have been identified around Coonoor, Kotagiri and Udhagamandalam in the Nilgiris. A Right To Information (RTI) request from CEAN revealed that 14 unapproved layouts were identified by a committee headed by the Coonoor Sub-Collector, Assistant Director of the Directorate of Town and Country Planning, the Nilgiris, and Block Development Officer, Kotagiri, that was formed to find such layouts in Kotagiri taluk. The 14 unapproved layouts were identified in Naduhatty, Kodanad, Doddabetta, Adhigaratty, Jackanarai, Kagguchi, Mulligoor and Burliyar. Surjit K. Chaudhary, retired IAS officer and chairperson of CEAN, said that the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, had clearly mandated that no promoter can advertise any real estate projects without first registering it with the Real Estate Regulatory Authority established under the act. The act also makes the promoter liable to pay a penalty of up to 10% of the cost of the project as established by the authority. If they fail to comply with the orders of the authority, they could even face a jail term and additional financial penalties. “The whole of the Nilgiris is notified as a planning area. These developers have promoted projects through social media, their officers and agents while the plots have been sold misleading the public,” said Mr. Chaudhary. He added that these activities contravened not just the RERA act but also others. As a result, CEAN appealed to the TNRERA to impose a maximum penalty against the builders and to take steps to ensure that the promoters refund the money to the buyers. Published - September 08, 2026 07:09 pm IST