PWD cancels allotment of CM residence, offers 2 other bungalows
The saga around the 6 Flagstaff Road bungalow took yet another turn on Tuesday, with the Public Works Department (PWD) withdrawing the offer letter of Delhi Chief Minister Atishi citing delay in possession.
The bungalow, which housed the former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, has been mired in controversies since its renovation in 2021. Meanwhile, following his resignation, the current CM claimed that this was the third time that she was evicted from the residence.
Sources said the CM had not been evicted. “She had never shifted at the residence, the house has been taken away for two reasons – for not taking possession within a week. However, she did not do so in three months. Secondly, the residence is under scrutiny by central agencies for alleged irregularities during the renovation.”
They added that the rules stipulate that if the allottee failed to take physical occupation of the house within five working days from the date of ‘Habitability Certificate’, the allotment shall be cancelled automatically.
According to the communication of the PWD dated January 6, the executive engineer, in a letter to the CM on December 26, had certified and reiterated to the CM that “the bungalow is in A very good and habitable condition and also attended all 14 suggestions given orally by the representative of the CM at the time of joint inspection on December 24.”
The department further added that the CM was yet to move into the house despite several communications, with the first communication on October 11.
It also added that 6 Flagstaff Road is also not a designated house for the Delhi CM and as per the official records, the bungalow belonged to the “general pool” category.
Sources said, “One of the conditions when the house was allotted to CM Atishi was that, since the residence was being probed by Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate, she will have to cooperate with them. However, she deliberately did not take possession so that the house remains closed and investigate agencies are stalled.”
Meanwhile, the PWD offered two bungalows to the CM – Bungalow No. 2 at 8, Raj Niwas Lane, Civil Lines, New Delhi, and Bungalow No, 115, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi.
Recently the CAG reports opened political heat in the national capital, which stated a splurge on marbles worth Rs 66 lakh, high-end TVs and curtains worth Rs 96 lakh.
The report said that the residence had eight bedrooms, three meeting rooms, two drawing rooms, one dining room, two kitchens and 12 toilets. However, the CAG report is yet to be tabled in the Delhi Assembly.
