A public interest litigation highlighting that the state government had failed to implement relevant laws to restrain mushrooming of illegal colonies in Punjab, specifically in Patiala, was filed in the high court on Friday.
Former Rajpura MLA Balwant Singh has filed the petition, which came up for hearing before the division bench comprising chief justice AK Sikri and justice Rakesh Kumar Jain. The bench adjourned the case for hearing on November 7.

The petitioner has sought directions to the state government authorities to implement the provisions of Punjab Regional and Town Planning and Development Act, 1995, and the Punjab Apartments and Property Regulation Act, 1995, to prevent illegal mushrooming of unapproved colonies, causing environment pollution and contamination of underground water.

The petitioner said that around 30 colonies were being laid and sold in-and-around Rajpura. Of the 30, only two were approved, Kanika Gardens and Madhuban. Unregistered property dealers were selling most of the plots in these colonies and the government had failed to check the same, the petitioner informed.