Mumbai, July 29 - In a major poll-eve bonanza for slum-dwellers, the Maharashtra government Wednesday decided to accord recognition to all slums that have come up till early 2000.

The decision was announced by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan following a meeting of the state cabinet.

All slums that have come up between 1995 and 2000 shall be considered as legal and hence eligible for all development, re-development and other schemes of the state government.

However, the relevant government resolution (GR) in the matter would be issued only after the Supreme Court gives its ruling in an appeal the state government has filed on the issue.

According to an official from the housing department, some NGOs had challenged in the Bombay High Court the government's move to extend the period up to which slums in Mumbai will be deemed legal.

The NGOs had argued that slums till 1985 were regularised, followed by 1995, so there was no need for further regularisation of slums that have come up till 2000.

The high court had ruled that there could be no further extension of the cut-off date (01-01-1995) for regularizing slums. This was challenged by the state government in the apex court.

The Supreme Court had sought some clarifications that were submitted by the state government a few weeks ago.