LDA to demolish ex-minister’s illegal constructions

LUCKNOW : The Lucknow Development Authority is set to demolish illegal constructions of former minister in the Samajwadi Party government Sharda Pratap Shukla, in Bangla Bazar area, likely on October 15.

It is alleged, Shukla had illegally occupied government land in Sector-L, Bangla Bazar.

Recently, the Supreme Court had rejected writ petition of Shukla seeking stay on Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court’s order to demolish all his illegal constructions.

On September 7, the high court had issued orders to demolish house of Shukla and get three plots under his illegal possession vacated within four weeks.

“Soon, all illegal constructions of Sharda Pratap Shukla

will be demolished,” said PN Singh, vice chairman, Lucknow Development Authority.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice Vivek Chaudhary had passed the order to demolish all illegal constructions on three plots (no. 249, 250, 251) at Qila Mohammadi, Sarojini Nagar while hearing two PILs.

All the three plots are government land and were illegally occupied by Shukla.

The area falls under Sarojini Nagar assembly constituency that Shukla had represented thrice.

“Respondent authorities are directed to immediately take possession of the aforesaid three plots no. 249, 250 and 251 and evict all occupiers from the same,” the court had observed.

It may be pointed out that the LDA had got vacated large chunk of land from illegal possession of Shukla after BJP came to power in the state last year.

In fact, first to face the LDA’s axe after change of government in the state was Sharda Pratap Shukla. The development authority had not only sealed Shukla’s illegal constructions in Bangla Bazar but also got its land vacated from illegal possession of the minister.