In a decision of far reaching economic and social consequences, the Punjab Finance Minister, Mr Surinder Singla, today announced in the Budget speech that all unauthorised residential colonies and slums in the state will be regularised. The only condition is that these colonies and slums should not be located on public land. This means all colonies and slums built illegally around major urban centres like Chandigarh, Mohali, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar or Bathinda will be regularised. Mr Singla said, a detailed scheme to cover both -the colonies as well as the slums - will be announced in May.