PRAYAGRAJ, April 20 -- The Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) is planning to offer affordable housing to residents, along with other amenities, on land that has been reclaimed from the illegal possession of gangster Atiq Ahmed and his associates. In this regard, the PDA has written to the Uttar Pradesh government requesting the allotment of 5.510 hectares of land in Kathua Gauspur, located under Sadar Tehsil. According to PDA vice chairman Rishiraj, the proposal has been sent to the principal secretary of revenue department, seeking the allotment of land for public purposes. "We have written to the government requesting the land for public use, and are still awaiting a response," he said. The land had previously been attached under an order issued by the Court in accordance with the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986. The attachment was subsequently followed by an order dated July 16, 2024, passed by the Special Judge (Gangster Act), Prayagraj, in the case State of Uttar Pradesh vs Atiq Ahmed and Others, through which the attached properties were vested in the state government. In its letter, the PDA reportedly noted that land recovered from land mafias across various districts is intended for public welfare projects. It further stated that with proper planning and regulated development, such land could help meet the city's public needs. The PDA has also submitted a detailed list of the gang members along with specifics of their attached properties to the government. It has requested that the 5.510 hectares of land at Kathua Gauspur, now under State ownership, be transferred to the PDA free of cost for use in public welfare projects. The list submitted to the government includes details of 16 properties and the names of the recorded plot-holders linked to each of them. Meanwhile, the PDA has identified unauthorised occupation on its land by land sharks in the Kalindipuram area, estimated to be worth around Rs 100 crore. Acting on the matter, the vice chairman of the development authority had sought an explanation from the junior engineer responsible for the area and has also suspended the Class IV employee assigned to monitor the site. The authority is now preparing to clear the land of illegal encroachment....