‘Mafia land will become homes for poor’: UP CM as he hands over flats built on Mukhtar Ansari’s seized property

Speaking after inaugurating the flats at the housing complex built under the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Awas Yojana, the CM said this event was not just about distributing houses but to send a message that the land grabbed by the mafia will now become homes for the poor.

He claimed the mafia once insulted the Constitution, mocked the law, and even officials used to bow before them. “Earlier governments too surrendered before these mafias. From east to west, north to south — mafias ruled every region. But today, the situation has completely changed,” he added.

The CM said the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has provided flats at Rs 10.70 lakh each in this prime location, while their market value is nearly Rs 1 crore.

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) constructed the 72 flats — each built in 36.65 sqm — divided in three blocks

According to the government, 8,000 applications were received for the flats and 5,700 were found eligible. After the due procedure, 72 have been allotted flats in the first phase.

Three allottees — Sonu Kumar Kanojia, Tara Devi and Suman Gupta — thanked the government. They stated they had been living in rented accommodations in Lucknow for years, struggling to build their own homes, but now they finally have one.

LDA Vice-Chairman Prathamesh Kumar said the project is located on a 20-metre-wide Bandha Road and is just 5-10 minutes from Hazratganj market.

The Chief Minister said, “This is just the beginning. The campaign will soon expand across the state to ensure every poor person gets a respectable home.”

He also criticised the Opposition and said, “Those who once made the mafia their disciples and exploited the poor now offer prayers at their graves.”

Referring to demolition of houses and shops at the Akbar Nagar slum in Mahanagar area of the capital, the chief minister said illegal mafia malls were removed from the Kukrail-Gomti banks to create Saumitra Van, and encroachers including Rohingya were evicted.

Adityanath announced that the government will establish Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Employment Centres in all 75 districts of the state. These centres will promote cluster-based skill development and provide local employment opportunities so that youth no longer have to migrate for jobs.

About the project

On August 27, 2020, the LDA had demolished two buildings on the 2,200 sqft land in Dalibagh.

Ansari, before he was jailed, and his family members used to live in the buildings for two decades. The authority had claimed the buildings were built on ‘evacuee property’ after illegal occupation and said the map for the construction was not approved.

Such properties, which earlier belonged to families who immigrated to Pakistan, come under the Enemy Property Act. The government later had decided to develop a housing scheme and build EWS flats.

Facilities

• Developed by the Lucknow Development Authority under the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Housing Scheme on about 2,322 sqm of land in Dalibagh
• Lottery process was completed on Tuesday to allot the flats
• 72 flats (G+3) built in three blocks
• Each measures 36.65 square metres
• Each EWS-category flat costs Rs 10.70 lakh
• It includes water and electricity supply, security arrangements, and two-wheeler parking -External development such as roads and parks has also been completed

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