E-Paper
Babus hold the key to Enclave row
FROM 107 a fortnight back, the number of vacant flats in Nehru Enclave has now gone up to 136, thanks to the piecemeal manner in which the so-called inquiry is being conducted into the controversial scheme by the LDA.On the other hand, the development agency, which had opened bookings for 107 flats in the colony, received 106 applications from the public despite the shoddy manner in which the scheme was advertised.
FROM 107 a fortnight back, the number of vacant flats in Nehru Enclave has now gone up to 136, thanks to the piecemeal manner in which the so-called inquiry is being conducted into the controversial scheme by the LDA.
On the other hand, the development agency, which had opened bookings for 107 flats in the colony, received 106 applications from the public despite the shoddy manner in which the scheme was advertised. But one application less than the number of available vacant property was reason enough for the mandarins in the LDA to unleash the propaganda they have been feeding to the people: that the scheme is unpopular.
After adjusting 17 disputed cases, the total number of vacant property now stands at 119. This includes 24 in Roopayan category, 25 in Vatayan, 41 in Pushpayan and nine and 20 each in the Premayan category flats respectively. Be that as it may, the fact remains that ‘babus’ of the property still continue to hold the keys of several flats in the scheme allotted under ‘benami’ or fictitious names.
For instance, the summary report prepared by the inquiry officer shows that flat number Rupayan – 14 belongs to one Harish Chopra. But though neither the registration number nor the date on which the allotment was made has been depicted, the status report states the registry of the flat has been executed.
While officially the property section maintains that the details of the property are missing, as the information against the same has not been fed into the department’s computer, sources had a different story to tell. In fact, the shady dealings of the ‘babus’ would have gone unnoticed but for an LDA official, who under the impression that the flat in question was vacant decided to get the same allotted for himself under the employee quota. The property section staff, however, soon dashed his hopes. He was told that the property in question had already been sold to Chopra.
On the basis of the address mentioned in the records, the officer decided to call on Chopra and crosscheck the facts. He was dumbstruck when the supposed buyer told him that though he had nothing to do with the property. Instead he (buyer) told the officer to get in touch with a particular ‘babu’ of the property section and assured him that he would do whatever he was asked to by this LDA employee.
According to sources, at least three-dozen flats under various categories are still held similarly by LDA employees under different names.
But then who is bothered? Not bosses in the Lucknow Development Authority at least, who have already pronounced their verdict that the scheme in question is unpopular without bothering to look into the factors and officers responsible for making it as such.
