BULANDSHAHR, July 18: Maman Road, a stretch of 7.5 kms on the Bulandshahr-Moradabad bypass in the badlands of western Uttar Pradesh, was till a couple of months ago a nondescript place.Today, thanks to an upcoming VIP `farmhouse', Maman Road looks set to become one of the most coveted addresses in this part of the state. Dozens of workers are at work, constructing a modern, concrete structure which, when complete, will stick out as an oddity in this otherwise desolate rural landscape.The farmhouse, spread over 21 bighas and valued at over Rs 18 lakh, is the latest acquisition of UP Chief Minister Mayawati who is clearly sparing no effort to give it the look of a south Delhi farmhouse.Records at the District Registrar's office here show that the land, classified as agricultural land and situated on the Bulandshahr-Moradabad bypass, was purchased by the chief minister's close relatives in 1995 from a local farmer.Two months ago, the district records show, the land was transferred in the name of Mayawati. Significantly, she began her second stint as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh a month earlier.All formalities, including the transaction and the registration of the land in the chief minister's name, were effected at the district registrar's office here. District administration officials, who are otherwise tight-lipped about the CM's new acquisition, insist that the registration of the land was done in a ``proper manner and the requisite stamp duty was paid''.Sources in the district administration point out that the land was purchased at the rate of Rs 80,000 per bigha (roughly 1,000 sq yards) but its market value is much higher today. Although of not much commercial value, land rates here are high because the area falls in one of the most fertile belts of the state, say local villagers.Top district officials are more than aware of the VIP construction in their neighbourhood and are doing their bit to ensure everything goes off smoothly.Local villagers insist, on condition of anonymity, that the official machinery has been liberally misused in facilitating the construction and providing civic amenities in the otherwise poorly developed rural area, some eight kilometres from Bulandshahr town. The chief minister, nevertheless, strenuously denies abuse of official machinery.While all roads in the rest of Bulandshahr have not seen a coat of tar for years and are in an advanced state of disrepair, Maman Road has been completely re-laid by the Public Works Department.
