NEW DELHI: Around 20 former ministers in the previous UPA Government and another 120 erstwhile MPs are soon to get eviction notices from the Union Urban Development(UUD) Ministry, in a bid to get them to vacate their government accommodation here.
The UUD is preparing the eviction notices following a nod in this regard from Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday, according to sources. This is seen as an effort on the part of the ministry to crack the whip on those dragging their feet on vacating the houses that had been allotted to them during their stint as the MPs and ministers.
The former lawmakers had time till June 26 to vacate their accommodation under the law following the formation of a new government at the Centre and the constitution of the new Lok Sabha. However, they had already been given a month’s extension till Saturday last to vacate the government accommodation.
The eviction notices are to be issued as Naidu had refused any more extension of the deadline. And the houses will now be allocated to the newly elected MPs and NDA Ministers, most of whom are presently staying at their respective state bhavans here or the government-run Ashoka Hotel and their bills are paid for by either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha Secretariat. And the Directorate of Estates will take the necessary steps to ensure that the houses are vacated by the present occupants within a week of the eviction notices being served on them, sources said.
While former minister Chiranjeevi will have to vacate his house for Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Rajya Sabha member A K Antony and Rajeev Shukla will have to move to a suitable accommodation from their current Type-VIII bungalows that are meant for ministers. They will be allotted new accommodation by the Rajya Sabha Secretariat commensurate with their status as former ministers.
Among the former MPs and ex-ministers, who have been given more time are RJD leader Lalu Prasad and late Sisram Ola. Lalu will stay at his present accommodation till October, while Ola’s family has been given time till 2015.