UP: Two BJP MLAs accuse LDA officials of taking bribes

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Sep 8 (ANI): Two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly (MLA) have written letters to the State Vigilance Commission accusing the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) officials of taking bribes from people to pass building maps.
In his letter, BJP MLA Virendra Singh Lodhi alleged on Saturday that the authority demands a bribe between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 50 lakh to pass one map, adding that those who failed to pay the hefty amount became a target of harassment.
"If the person refuses to pay the required amount demanded by the Lucknow Developmental Authorities, the officers deliberately put obstructions on the map of the property and do not give their clearance on the map," he said.
Lodhi also alleged that the LDA was unlawfully giving assent to convert residential properties into commercial properties.
Echoing Lodhi's contention, another BJP MLA, Dharmendra Shakya, in a separate letter alleged that the LDA takes large amount of bribe from companies that deal with township construction.
"Recently, Shaan- e- Awadh near the Ekana International Cricket Stadium is under construction by a Bombay based builder. The authorities sold the land for only Rs 438.37 crore despite knowing that the reserve price was Rs 500 crore," he noted.
Both the BJP MLAs have urged the State vigilance commission to initiate a thorough investigation into the matter at the earliest and punish the guilty. (ANI)