Number of VIP squatters in govt bungalows falls after RTI plea

Mayank Aggarwal / DNAMonday, May 24, 2010 1:32 IST

New Delhi: The number of VIP squatters illegally occupying government bungalows in Delhi’s Lutyens’ Zone has reduced from 36 to six in about a year, revealed the latest data in response to an RTI query released on May 18.

In response to an RTI application filed by activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal, the directorate of estates of the ministry of urban development had first revealed in July 2009 that 36 ex-ministers and former parliamentarians occupied the posh Lutyens’ bungalows despite losing entitlement.

In its revised response to a similar query in February, the ministry revealed that this figure had come down to 16. Now, as per the latest data released, the number of VIP squatters is only six.

The six VIPs who occupy these government bungalows are Jagdish Tytler, Renuka Chowdhury, Ram Vilas Paswan, Saleem Sherwani, Ram Jethmalani and Ashwini Kumar. The names of Tytler, Chowdhury, Paswan and Sherwani have consistently figured in all the three lists released by the ministry.

“There have been instances in the past of politicians occupying government bungalows for years. But it’s the power of the RTI and the media which highlights the issue that has forced these VIPs to vacate,” Agrawal told DNA.

Citing the example of former parliamentarian Ramdas Athawale who was evicted last year from the government bungalow allotted to him after he lost the Lok Sabha election, Agrawal said: “The government should take similar steps against unauthorised occupants of government accommodations… It should explain why it isn’t forcefully evicting the remaining VVIP encroachers.”

The ministry’s reply also revealed that the government bungalow at 6, Krishna Menon Marg, which was vacated by Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar, is yet to be allotted.

“The government is facing a shortage of bungalows, yet this bungalow has not been allotted to anyone. The government needs to explain why this particular bungalow is still not allotted,” Agrawal said.

The ministry, however, refused to justify. “This issue is not covered within the scope of information as defined in the RTI Act 2005,” it said.