The Delhi government on Wednesday notified 917 unauthorised colonies as regularized. These colonies were among 1,218 which were issued provisional regularization certificates (PRCs) in 2008 just before the assembly elections. But after four years, only 917 colonies are being regularized.

All the remaining 301 colonies, including 150 on forest or ridge land, few on government land, and the remaining on the land of archeological survey of India that are disputed, will also be legalized, ensures the the ministry of urban development of Delhi government.

It says that 917 colonies were selected on the basis of pictures collected through geospatial system and the government has demarcated the boundaries after getting the nod from various agencies.

“Around 150 colonies are on forests land for which we’ll have to take permission from the government of India. Some of the colonies are scattered and do not have one localized habitat and some did not exist in the map of 2002,” says R Chandra Mohan, principal secretary, urban development ministry of the Delhi government.

He said the government received many applications and this is just the first round of regularizing colonies in the national capital. “We will study the colonies that are not regularized now and we’ll see what can be done. The process will take some time,” he added.

After regularisation, land use of the 917 colonies will change to residential. Also, building plans will be approved and they will be provided with civic amenities and addresses, he said.

“Earlier only basic amenities were being provided so that people do not suffer but now they will be developed like any other regularized colony,” Chandra Mohan added.

He said banks and other financial institutions should also provide loan for the construction of houses. “They should not have any problem but it will depend on what kind of security they want because many of these colonies are located in the villages in NCR.”

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit has ensured 30 lakh people from 917 colonies will be benefited and no house will be demolished in any of the remaining colonies.