India, July 3 -- LUCKNOW Nearly two weeks after the devastating Aliganj fire claimed 15 lives, the UP Housing and Development Board (UPHDB) on Friday launched an enforcement drive against illegal commercial establishments operating from residential properties in its schemes across Lucknow. The action has shifted the focus from violations to the years of inaction that allegedly allowed such establishments to function unchecked.

On Friday, the board's construction division sealed seven buildings in Indira Nagar that were illegally operating as hospitals, hotels, libraries, rental accommodations and commercial complexes without commercial land-use approval or sanctioned building plans. Officials also stopped the construction of an under-con...