Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today ordered a strict action against any further illegal colonisation in the state, an official spokesperson said.

He directed the concerned departments to ensure that genuine buyers of plots in legal colonies do not face any harassment.

The chief minister has issued the directives aimed at streamlining urban development and eliminating illegal construction to the state government as well as the Department of Housing and Urban Department, the spokesperson said.

He has also instructed the chief administrators of the development authorities to send updated lists of illegal colonies in their respective jurisdiction as well as within the municipal limits to the concerned deputy commissioners.

All steps should be taken to ensure that there is no harassment to the genuine buyers of plots in legal colonies, the chief minister has directed, the spokesperson added.

The spokesperson further said that the CM has requested his colleagues in the cabinet sub-committee examining the draft policy on this subject to deliberate and give their recommendations to the council of ministers in its meeting to be held in March.

The sub-committee has already held two meetings on this issue.

There are at present 7,301 illegal colonies in the state as per the latest survey. Of these, 2,906 are within municipal limits and 4,395 are outside municipal limits, the spokesperson said.  PTI