PWD Withdraws Allotment of Atishi's Bungalow Citing Probes and Delayed Possession; Offers Two Alternatives
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Delhi, Atishi, has leveled serious accusations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre, claiming that her official residence has been unjustly taken from her.
She stated that this decision was made just a day prior to the Election Commission's announcement regarding the schedule for the 70-member Delhi Assembly elections.
Amit Malviya, the head of BJP's IT cell, swiftly refuted Atishi's claims, asserting, "Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Marlena is LYING. She was assigned Sheesh Mahal on 11-Oct-2024. She hasn’t yet occupied it because she wishes to avoid conflict with Arvind Kejriwal. As a result, the allotment was rescinded, and she has been offered two alternative bungalows instead."
Malviya shared a communication from the Public Works Department (PWD) that outlined the reasoning behind the cancellation of the bungalow allotment at 6, Flag Staff Road.
The PWD letter specified, "Given the circumstances and the aforementioned reasons, the offer for allotment of Bungalow No. 6, Flag Staff Road, which was issued to Ms. Atishi, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Delhi via letter no F.A(6 Flag Staff Road)PWD&H/2024/1472-73 dated 11-10-2024 by the Public Works Department Secretariat, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, is hereby withdrawn, effective immediately."
Additionally, it mentioned, "In light of the withdrawal of the offer letter dated 11.10.2024, the PWD proposes to offer two bungalows: Bungalow No. 2 at 8 Raj Niwas Lane, Civil Lines, New Delhi, and Bungalow No. 115 at Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi, for her selection, for which a separate 'offer letter' will be issued to Ms. Atishi, Hon'ble Chief Minister, Delhi."
The PWD subsequently sent an offer letter detailing these bungalows for Atishi on January 6, 2025.
In the midst of this bungalow dispute, several significant points come to light.
To begin with, the PWD letter indicates that Atishi has not been evicted, as she never assumed possession of the bungalow assigned to her. Furthermore, her official residence at 17 AB Mathura Road remains allocated to her, and she has been offered a choice between two alternative bungalows.
The PWD letter also clarified that the withdrawal of the offer for the Flag Staff Road bungalow occurred for two primary reasons: Atishi did not take possession of the property within the stipulated one-week timeframe, despite it being offered three months prior.
Additionally, the Sheesh Mahal, where the bungalow is situated, is currently under investigation by the CBI, ED, and CAG, due to concerns regarding potential corruption linked to its construction.
Atishi was anticipated to cooperate with these investigations.
Sources have suggested that the deliberate delay in taking possession of the bungalow was perceived as an effort to keep the property unoccupied and hinder the progress of these investigations.
