With the setting up of a sub-committee to monitor unauthorised structures in Punjab, over 1,500 illegal colonies are now set to face action. As per the records available with Punjab’s Housing and Urban Development department, as many as 1,565 such illegal structures are yet to be regularised in the state.

In a recent survey conducted, Punjab Urban Development Authority’s sister bodies Jalandhar Development Authority having 332, Amritsar Development Authority having 335, Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority having 113, Patiala Development Authority having 330, Greater Mohali Area Development Authority having 255 and Bathinda Development Authority having 200 pending applications which are seeking the regularisation of structures. Sources said that the government is mulling over to give the go-ahead to regularise these structures, but the issue of such colonies built by private promoters, on Municipal Corporation land and on land outside MC limits has become a major issue.

After coming to power, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh-led Congress government had ordered to set up a committee to formulate legislation for regularisation of illegal colonies and transfer of ownership rights to the occupants.

The state government has already launched a mobile App to check unauthorised construction.

A new web portal of the housing department, for the issuance of electronic change of land use (E-CLU), was also unveiled. On Wednesday, the sub-committee, headed by Health Minister Brahm Mohindra, was asked to submit its report within 30 days on the review of unauthorised colonies in the state.

Besides finalising the legislation and the policy, the sub-committee will also fix composition fee rates for regularisation of the unauthorised residential colonies falling under various categories.

Officials said the unplanned areas would be brought in the planning framework with the proposed legislation, thus facilitating basic amenities for the citizens of these colonies and better quality of life for them.

Sources, in PUDA, a subsidiary of Housing and Urban Development department, however, said, as many as 1759 applications seeking regularisation of illegal structures have been given a positive nod.