New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS): The central government Wednesday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to "carry out necessary modifications in the regulations for regularisation of unauthorised colonies urgently".

This is being done in "pursuance of the union cabinet's decision extending the cut-off date for such a regularisation," an official release said.

The urban development ministry, while informing the DDA that the cabinet in its meeting held December 29 had approved to amend the revised guidelines of 2007 in the matter of regularisation of unauthorised colonies in Delhi, has asked the DDA to accordingly amend relevant clauses in the said guidelines, it added.

The cabinet had decided to extend the cut-off date with reference to the existence of unauthorised colonies in Delhi from March 31, 2002 as mentioned in the revised guidelines of 2007 to June 1, 2014, for the purpose of regularisation.

The urban development ministry, however, clarified that it had not requested for issuance of an ordinance in this regard for approval of the cabinet.

"The ministry seeks to clarify that no proposal for issuance of an ordinance for regularisation of unauthorised colonies was made for the approval of union cabinet, as the same was not required," it added.

The union cabinet Monday decided to regularise all illegal settlement colonies that came up in Delhi till June 1 this year.

The latest move, that is expected to benefit an expected 60 lakh people in the poll-bound Delhi, was criticised by the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).