MP govt plans strict regulations to handle illegal colonies issue

The Madhya Pradesh government is set to implement strict laws to regulate illegal colonies. The new proposal includes penalties of up to 10 years in jail and fines of up to ₹50 lakh for violators. Draft amendments to the Municipal Act have been prepared and are expected to be implemented within a month, according to Urban Development Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya.

The government is considering legalising only those illegal colonies established before 2016. However, discussions are ongoing about extending the cutoff to 2022. "A strong nexus is involved in developing illegal colonies, and it must be stopped. The bill will include stringent measures, including NSA provisions," Vijayvargiya said, referring to the National Security Act.

Official data shows that Madhya Pradesh had 6,077 illegal colonies in 2016. By March 2024, this number had increased to 7,981, with nearly 1,900 new unauthorised settlements. In Bhopal alone, over 300 illegal colonies have been identified in the last two years.

The previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government had announced in May 2023 that all illegal colonies built before December 2022 would be legalised without development charges. At the time, Chouhan stated, "If the government did not stop them earlier, why punish families who spent their life savings on a home? Declaring them illegal is itself unfair, and I am ending this injustice."

However, the current Mohan Yadav-led government has taken a different approach. Vijayvargiya stated, "We are ensuring basic amenities for residents but will not legalise newly created illegal colonies."

The new law includes strict measures to tackle unauthorised settlements. Developers who create illegal colonies could face jail terms of 7-10 years and fines of up to ₹50 lakh. Authorities will also seize movable and immovable assets of violators to fund development work in affected areas. Officials who fail to prevent illegal construction may face up to three years in jail and a fine of ₹10,000. Additionally, FIRs against violators must be registered within 90 days of a complaint.

Experts emphasise that the effective implementation of the law is crucial. "The root cause is migration—people moving from villages to cities and buying land cheaply in unauthorised colonies. The solution is to simplify legal colony approvals so that developers follow regulations," said Manoj Singh Meek, president of CREDAI Bhopal.

Support us to keep independent environmental journalism alive in India.

More Video Reports

Mahseer saviors struggle as conservation funds dry up

Rising temperatures increasing hardships of chilli sorters in Khargone

Sexed Semen: Madhya Pradesh determining calf's gender

Fertilizer shortage disrupts rabi sowing for Madhya Pradesh farmers

Follow Ground Report on X, Instagram and Facebook for environmental and underreported stories from the margins. Give us feedback on our email id [email protected]. 

Don't forget to Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, Join our community on WhatsApp, and Follow our YouTube Channel for video stories