REGULARISING THE IRREGULAR

The poll season has set in over Madhya Pradesh, and it comes bearing pretty presents by parties in the fray looking to woo voters.

- Rahul Noronha

The latest handouts by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan contain the usual complement—free pilgrimage travel for senior citizens, interest waivers for farmers, cash assistance of Rs 1,000-3,000 to women et al. Among them is that gift that keeps on giving, election after election: the regularisation of unauthorised colonies. Thousands of these across the state are set to benefit from his promises. It’s a long list: infrastructure, water, electricity, other facilities. “Development fees will not be charged from poor residents,” Chouhan said on May 23 as he announced his general amnesty for all colonies built without proper clearances in the state until December 31, 2022. This includes 6,077 colonies identified till December 31, 2016, and nearly 2,500 will be added to the list per the December 2022 deadline. The government aims to finish the process by June 30.

OVER 6,000 COLONIES THAT CAME UP WITH NO CLEARANCES WILL BE REGULARISED IN MADHYA PRADESH AHEAD OF THE ASSEMBLY ELECTION