Saturday, January 14 2006 13:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna today (Jan 14,2006) signed an ordinance aimed at regularising illegal buildings in Ulhasnagar township of neighbouring Thane district.

"The Governor this morning signed the ordinance and the file has been sent to the Law and Judiciary Department of the State Government for further action," a senior Raj Bhavan official told sources.

The governor had raised some queries in the ordinance when it first came to him last week but signed it this morning following satisfactory replies to his doubts by the State Government, the official said.

Today's development comes despite the Bombay High Court pulling up the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) and the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led Congress government on Thursday over delay in implementing the court order on demolition of 855 illegal buildings in Ulhasnagar.

On Thursday, Justice R M Lodha and Justice A V Mohta directed the Principal Secretary of Urban Development Department of Mahararshtra Government to personally monitor and ensure effective implementation of court order.

The court also asked the Principal Secretary to submit a status report on the demolition work by January 24 and made it clear that he would be made personally responsible for implementation of high court order.

The court also directed Principal Secretary to submit the report of Nandlal Committee, appointed to study the illegal structures in Ulhasnagar, along with the action taken based on report.

If action has not been initiated as recommended by the Committee report, the court said the state government should also specify the reasons behind it.

The Principal Secretary should also submit the copy of enquiry report by Director General (Anti-Corruption Bureau) related to Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation as referred in the Nandlal Committee, the court said.

The court also asked the Principal Secretary (Urban Development) and Ulhasnagar Municipal Commissioner to personally present during next hearing of case on January 25.