Illegal builders, Atiq’s aides on PDA radar

PRAYAGRAJ: Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) officials have said that drive against history sheeters, mafias and unscrupulous builders and encroachers that was started in the previous BJP government has resumed.

“Action will also be taken against illegal plotting that are being sold without any approval and buildings that are being constructed without approval of map by PDA,” the officials said.

PDA secretary Ajit Singh said people often purchase plots without verifying if the layout is approved by PDA.

“Persons involved in illegal plotting should submit their layout and get it approved to avoid action. Moreover, owners of marriage halls, coaching institutes, hotels, hospitals should also get their maps approved by PDA,” he added.

The Prayagraj Development Authority has already resumed action against properties of Mafiosi-turned-politician and former MP Atiq Ahmad and his associates.

PDA and police officials said some of Atiq’s aides have again started their illegal property business and had started selling plots for which no layout plan was approved and no permission was taken by PDA officials. Many such illegal plotting had come up in Jhalwa, Kasari Masari and other areas.

Two days ago, PDA officials accompanied by heavy force had demolished the boundary wall and tin shades at Atiq’s ancestral house.

PDA had demolished the house last year but the boundary wall and tin shades were reconstructed without permission.

PDA officials claimed that notice was issued in this connection to Atiq’s kin earlier. The PDA team later demolished constructions of illegal plotting on around 50 bighas of land at

Bhiti which was owned by Atiq’s associate Khalid Zafar.

PDA officials said that illegal properties worth around Rs 300 crores owned by Atiq and his associates were demolished and seized in the action taken against them so far.

The properties include Atiq’s ancestral house worth Rs 40 crore, his office worth Rs 12 crore, a plot of land at Lukarganj worth Rs 85 crores and warehouse at Andawa worth RS 30 crores.

PDA has demolished 59

buildings in the action taken against history sheeters, mafias, gangsters and criminals in the last two years across the district.

The buildings included residential houses, farm house, marriage halls, school, lodges, warehouse etc.

Most of the action was taken against Atiq, his kin and associates but buildings owned by gangster Dilip Mishra, former MLA Vijay Mishra and some other notorious criminals in Naini, Jhunsi, Industrial Area were also demolished.