Mayawati scoops three Lutyens homes: UPA breaks rules to let BSP chief create super-bungalow



BSP supremo Maywati has been granted no fewer than three Government bungalows

Rewards don't come bigger than this. Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and now Member of Parliament Mayawati has not only been allotted three neighbouring bungalows in one of Delhi's fanciest localities - but they have been amalgamated into one super-bungalow.



All this has been approved by the Central Public Works Department. Incidentally, all the bungalows are Type VIII, one of the largest government accommodations.

According to officials, such bungalows are meant for ministers and secretaries, with a plot size of 8,250 square feet, a plinth area of 1,970 square feet that includes eight bedrooms, four servant quarters, and two garages. The bungalow has front and back lawns too.

The main chamber of the Lok Sabha is semi-circular in shape and has a floor area of about 4,800 square feet. Mayawati's super-bungalow will be about six times larger.

Apart from being a very obvious thank you, the government move attempt is a prescient ring-fencing strategy keeping in mind the coming General Elections of 2014, as Mayawati is known to be fickle with political partners.



For the Congress, her previous flirtation with the BJP is an unforgettable event that must not be allowed to happen again.



According to the documents received through a Right to Information request by activist Subhash Agarwal, the amalgamated single unit has been allotted to Bahujan Prerna Trust, which belongs to Mayawati.



The documents received during last week from the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), reveal that the Directorate of Estates approved the single amalgamated unit allotted to the trust. Mayawati was allotted three government bungalows on Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Road - Nos 12, 14 and 16 - which have now been amalgamated into one by abolishing municipal numbers 14 and 15.



Moreover, the BSP supremo already has one government bungalow to her name at 4, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj road, which is separate from these three.

Mayawati's Rakabganj Road bungalow

A letter written by the Directorate of Estates, MoUD, to Mayawati said: "I am directed to invite kind reference to your letter… and to convey the approval of the competent authority in supersession of this directorate's letter to the amalgamation of the single Type VIII unit (after combining bungalow No. 14, Gurudwara Rakab Ganj road and bungalow No. 16 GRG road), earlier allotted to you in your capacity as national president, BSP, with Bungalow No. 12 as a single unit and allotment thereof to the Bahujan Prerna Trust."



The letter also said that the allotment was on the same terms and conditions as stipulated in the original allotment letter dated July 27, 2007.



Besides contravening the rules, it defies logic that four government bungalows have been allotted to a single person, of which she has one in her own name and the other three amalgamated into a single unit in the name of a trust she runs.



Officials said that rules do not allow any modification in government bungalows in New Delhi's Lutyen's Bungalow Zone, but documents reveal unauthorised constructions in all three bungalows.

For bungalow No. 14, allotted to Mayawati as chairman of the trust, the total space taken for unauthorised construction is almost 200 square metres. This includes a verandah along the width of the bungalow in the rear and four rooms on one of its sides.

Similarly, for bungalow No. 12, unauthorised construction of rooms, office, toilet, kitchen along with fibre sheet, covering area of 238 square metres has been added. For bungalow No. 16, the unauthorised construction includes rooms with AC sheets and a toilet, an AC steel shed along with three other rooms and a bathroom.

The total covered area measures about 300 square metres. It also has a temporary unauthorised construction of tin sheets made of steel and metal, covering 180.5 square metres in the same bungalow.

For the bungalow No. 4 on GRG, allotted to Mayawati as BSP national president, the unauthorised construction includes a temporary structure measuring around 145 square metres in area. It includes raising of a compound wall, and main gate on the back side along with construction of three to four rooms and compound wall around the park at the rear side of the bungalow.



Seeking investigation into the allotment of single big unit to the politician, Agarwal said: "It is a matter of investigation why and how CPWD kept eyes closed on unauthorised construction carried out in three government bungalows 12, 14 and 16 at Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Road being amalgamated illegally in a single unit by the allottee.



"Enquiry must be made against those at Directorate of Estates responsible for reallotting the amalgamated single unit of three bungalows to a trust managed by a person having carried out illegal constructions in government property allotted to her."





