UP DGP gets himself second bungalow from police pool

Since the bungalow is in police pool,and the DGP is head of the force,he has allotted the bungalow to himself.

The DGP’s official bungalow was renovated at a huge expense in March before Sharma moved in after his appointment by the SP government.

Asked about allotment of a second bungalow to the DGP,R M Srivastava,Principal Secretary (Home),said the government was not in the picture as the bungalow belonged to the police pool.

The DGP simply said: “It is a normal practice and I got it allotted just like that.”

Contrary to Sharma’s claim,no former DGP has ever allotted a second bungalow to himself,some even preferred their own house over the official DGP’s bungalow. The last DGP who stayed in the bungalow was Atul,who was appointed by the Election Commission for the duration of the assembly election.

Atul’s predecessor Brij Lal stayed in an Estate Department flat in Raj Bhawan colony. Brij Lal’s predecessor R K Tiwari and his predecessor Karamvir Singh stayed in their own houses in Gomti Nagar and Cantonment,respectively. The only DGP who stayed in the official bungalow for a considerable period was Vikram Singh — from 2007 to 2009.

While the DGP has got a second bungalow for himself,his office recently issued notices to 30 senior police officers to vacate flats in Police Officers’ Colony after they were transferred out of Lucknow.

Explaining the notices,B P Jogdand,Assistant to DGP,who is an IG rank officer and looks after allotment of police houses,said,“This is a rule that an officer having a flat in police colony is issued a notice to vacate his house three months after his transfer out of Lucknow.’’

If any of these officers wish to retain their flats,they would have to seek permission from DGP for ”a strong reason’’,and that too for a maximum six months,he said.