Flats built on land freed from Atiq’s hold to be allotted to poor in Prayagraj

“These flats have been built for poor families under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) scheme. While the cost of each flat has been pegged at Rs 6 lakh, the Centre will fund Rs 1.5 lakh and the UP government will contribute Rs 1 lakh. The remaining Rs 3.5 lakh will have to be deposited by the allottees, who can pay the amount in installment,” said a government official.

Chief Engineer (PDA) Neeraj Gupta said the lucky draw is scheduled to be held on Friday after which keys will be handed over to the allottees. (Express photo)

The two four-storey buildings with 40 and 36 flats are built on a 1731 sq metre plot. As per the PDA, each flat has a 22.77 sq meter carpet area with two rooms (9X10 sq feet each), a washroom, and a small space for a kitchen.

“There are 19 flats on the ground floor. It has been decided that these flats on the ground floor will be allotted to senior citizens and disabled persons,” said a senior official of the PDA department.

The government has set certain criteria for who can apply for these flats – a) applicants should be a resident of Prayagraj; b) their annual income should be below Rs 3 lakh; and c) they should not have any ‘pucca’ house in Prayagraj.

“As many as 6,000 people had applied online for the flats. After scrutiny, around 1,615 applications were found eligible. After the lucky draws, keys to these flats will be handed over to the allottees,” said a PDA official.

Chief Engineer (PDA) Neeraj Gupta said the lucky draw is scheduled to be held on Friday after which keys will be handed over to the allottees.

The twin buildings have been built in just over 18 months. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had laid the foundation stone for the buildings in December 2021, soon after the government land (Nizul land) was freed during an anti-encroachment drive. Atiq Ahmed and his associates had encroached upon the land and built a boundary wall around it.

Ahmed, a history-sheeter with over 100 cases against him, and his brother Ashraf were shot dead by three men under police custody and on live TV news on April 15 this year. Both were in police custody in connection with the murder of Umesh Pal, a witness in the MLA Raju Pal murder case. Umesh Pal and his two police gunners were shot dead allegedly by Atiq’s associates in the Dhoomanganj area of Prayagraj on February 24 this year.