The LDA team will gather information on land use, ownership of land, basic facilities available and required developmental work in the areas.

According to the Lucknow Master Plan, there are 241 unauthorised colonies, developed without proper sanctions from the LDA.

The state government had issued guidelines in 2003 for the regularisation of unauthorised colonies developed before November 30, 2003.

In October last year, the LDA had invited applications from these housing societies for regularisation.

“We received applications from 51 colonies, which will be surveyed now,” said LDA Vice-Chairman N S Ravi.

“Survey of two colonies — Srijan Vihar in Gomti Nagar and Ambika Vihar near Bangla Bazar — will start immediately as they are on the municipal corporation land and the issue of change of land use is not involved,” he said.

Ravi added that the LDA will develop unauthorised colonies and recover proportionate development charges from the residents.

“The LDA may take strict action against colonies which have not applied for regularisation. These can even be demolished,” he said.

However, other officials said unauthorised colonies might be given more time.

“It’s a long drawn process. People may slowly turn up when they see development in other colonies,” said an official.

LDA officials could not provide any answer when asked whether action would be initiated against the developers of these colonies.