M A I N   N E W S

Sop spree: Haryana to regularise illegal colonies
Pradeep Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 20
The Hooda government is set to regularise illegal residential colonies that had come into existence by January 1, 2014.

A Bill to regularise such colonies will be brought in the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha beginning tomorrow. The move is likely to benefit several lakh residents of hundreds of illegal colonies that had come up between June 30, 2009, and January 1, 2014.

For illegal colonies to be regularised, construction on over 50 per cent plots must have taken place by January 1, 2014. The municipal body concerned would have to pass a resolution, which would then be recommended by the competent authority to the state government.

Coming close on the heels of bonanza announced by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for the gallantry award winners yesterday, the move to regularise illegal colonies is being seen as an attempt to check the growing influence of the BJP and AAP in the run-up to the forthcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. “Besides, it will prove to be an antidote to the anti-incumbency sentiment against the Hooda government,” a senior government functionary said.

A regularisation fee of Rs 250, Rs 200 and Rs 150 per sq yd and development charges of Rs 200, Rs 150 and Rs 75 per sq yd were proposed to be charged for areas falling within the limits of municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipal committees, respectively.

Besides providing relief to the residents of such colonies, the move would also help in regulated development of urban areas as the money collected by way of regularisation charges would be utilised for carrying out development works in the areas earmarked for regularisation, sources said.

Yesterday, Hooda approved a notification to regularise 875 unauthorised colonies in the state. These settlements were part of 1,340, colonies identified by the state government for regularisation.

Bill likely this session

• The state government is set to bring a Bill to regularise illegal colonies that came up between June 30, 2009 and January 1, 2014
• For getting regularised, construction must have taken place on over 50% plots in that colony. The decision is being seen as an attempt to checkmate the BJP and AAP in the forthcoming elections