Crisis over 72 LDA flats in Lucknow as Irrigation Department claims land, seeks evacuation within 7 days

A major dispute has emerged over the Lucknow Development Authority's Sardar Patel Residential Scheme in Lucknow after the Irrigation Department issued a notice alleging that the housing project was constructed illegally on departmental land. The notice, pasted on one of the flats, directs the allottee to vacate the property within seven days and warns that eviction proceedings will be initiated if the premises are not vacated within the stipulated period.

According to the notice, the Irrigation Department has claimed ownership of a portion of the land on which the housing project was developed. The department stated that if possession is not removed voluntarily, authorities will proceed with eviction action and recover any expenses, damages and legal costs arising from the operation from the concerned allottee. The development has triggered uncertainty over the legal status of the project and the rights of its residents.

The dispute relates to the Sardar Patel Residential Scheme located in Dali Bagh. Developed by the Lucknow Development Authority on approximately 2,314 square metres of land, the project consists of 72 residential flats. The housing scheme generated considerable public interest due to its location and affordability, attracting nearly 8,000 applications before all 72 flats were allotted through a lottery process in November 2025.

The flats were formally handed over to beneficiaries on November 4, 2025. Each unit was priced at around ₹10.70 lakh. The project's location near Hazratganj and Sikandar Bagh contributed to strong demand among homebuyers. The latest notice from the Irrigation Department has now raised concerns among allottees who took possession of their homes only a few months ago.

Officials have stated that the housing project was developed on land that had previously been freed from the alleged occupation of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. However, the Irrigation Department's claim over the land has brought the future of the project under scrutiny. With the seven-day deadline in place, allottees are awaiting clarity on how the dispute between the Lucknow Development Authority and the Irrigation Department will be resolved.