Colonies to get ‘Aadhaar card’:Scan to verify if legal or illegal; unified law draft prepared for development

A single law will soon govern the development of colonies in both urban and rural areas of Madhya Pradesh. At present, differing regulations have enabled several developers to carve out illegal colonies in rural limits. Under the proposed law, every colony will be assigned a unique identification number, and a property will not be considered legal merely because it has been registered. The Urban Development and Housing Department has finalised the draft of the Unified Coloniser Act 2026. After receiving Cabinet approval, the Bill will be introduced in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assembly. The proposed legislation provides for a single licensing system across the state, online monitoring mechanisms and accountability of district collectors. The law also proposes stringent penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to ₹1 crore for developing illegal colonies. Know the proposed changes in 5 points Who Has What Role in Implementing the Law The new legislation will assign accountability to officials at multiple levels for implementation and regulation. What benefits will buyers get Expert says- Control over illegal colonies necessary CREDAI president Manoj Singh Meek said the government is bringing a new Act by amending the Coloniser Act 2021. The government had sought suggestions from CREDAI office-bearers, and recommendations were submitted. According to him, the proposed legislation contains several strict provisions. For instance, if an illegal colony is developed in a rural area, the concerned patwari could be held accountable. In urban areas, responsibility may lie with the ward in-charge. At present, developers are required to obtain permissions from 11 different departments before developing a colony. Under the proposed framework, approvals would be required from only three departments. He said the most significant benefit of the new law would be curbing the growth of illegal colonies.