Ahmedabad: The state assembly on Monday unanimously passed The Gujarat Regularisation of Unauthorised Development Bill, 2011, which would pave the way for regularising over 15 lakh illegal constructions in the state.

The bill was cleared during the budget session of the assembly in March too, but it was returned by Governor Dr Kamla with about ten suggestions. Sources indicated that about five suggestions have been inculcated in the amended Bill which was passed on Monday. The good news is that the Opposition Congress welcomed the amendments in the Bill. If initial indications are anything to go by, the Governor may now clear the Bill.

Tabling the amended bill in the assembly, urban development minister Nitin Patel said that March 28, 2011, the day the original bill was passed by the assembly, had been fixed as the cut-off date for illegal structures to be covered under the law.