PRAYAGRAJ, Aug. 25 -- Recent floods have laid bare the risks faced by residents who constructed homes in low-lying areas without securing building plan approvals from the Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA). In a swift three-day operation, the PDA demolished boundary walls of illegally sold residential plots spread across 40 bighas in various low-lying localities and city outskirts. Six realtors have been identified as key players in this illegal activity.

Over the past three months, the PDA has intensified its crackdown on illegal plotting, demolishing boundary walls at over 1,000 plots, mainly on the city's outskirts. In addition, FIRs have been registered against individuals engaged in unauthorised land development across multiple p...