Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Jaipal Reddy said: " We are planning to expand the scope of the ordinance released earlier to protect the irregular colonies of Delhi which came up as a tool for organic growth of the city."

"It is necessary to protect them and for this the government will bring in new legislation.

We will seek cabinet approval to bring in an ordinance for it so that the stay on sealing is extended," he added

The Delhi Laws (Special Provision) Act, 2009, which provided immunity to such shops from sealing and demolition, is expiring on December 31 after which they would come under the MCD axe.

Earlier, Delhi government had hit out at Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for the delay in drafting of layout plans of unauthorised colonies. MCD also passed standing committee under section 177 Delhi Municipal Corporation act under which no property tax would be collected from unauthorised colonies .

In the capital about 40 lakh people are staying in unauthorised colonies and urbanised villages and they are treated as vote banks by Congress and BJP.