Chandigarh, March 20 (IANS) With the Haryana government announcing that all illegal slum colonies across the state will be regularized, the government has received nearly 1,300 applications for regularization.

Minister of State for Urban Local Bodies Gopal Kanda Sunday said: "The department has received proposals for regularization of about 1,300 colonies in different cities of the state. A decision in this regard would be taken shortly so as to provide basic facilities in these colonies."

Kanda said over 28 percent of the population in Haryana was residing in urban areas and the government had given priority for the development of urban areas.

Majority of the illegal slum colonies are in the national capital region (NCR) of New Delhi. Many of these are in the vicinity of Gurgaon and Faridabad cities.

"Adequate funds would be provided to improve the financial health of urban local bodies and strengthen the basic amenities in urban areas. Development plans of 73 towns have been prepared so as to provide more basic facilities like roads, drainage, water supply and sewerage," Kanda said in a statement.

He said that the department would spend over Rs.1,695 crore during 2011-12 for development of urban areas.