Caring little about allegations of misuse of funds to erect parks and statues,Chief Minister Mayawati will inaugurate two more as a tribute to Dr B R Ambedkar on his birth anniversary on December 6. The state government has sanctioned around Rs 150 crore to develop the parks. To be named after the architect of the Constitution,both parks are coming up in the citys Gomti Nagar locality,where a grand memorial in the name of Amebdkar already exists. While one is being developed over a sprawling 22 acres featuring Lucknows biggest and most spectacular musical fountain the other is coming up over 23 acres on the banks of Gomti bandha and will have the first four-faced statue of Amebdkar,said an official. Cast in marble,the 18-feet high statue has been sculpted in Jaipur. Another 12-feet high statue of Dr Ambedkar has been put up inside a huge pavilion at one of the parks, he added. With well laid out pathways,flower beds and lights,the entire 45-acre stretch of Gomti barrage is being beautified to provide a visual treat to visitors. There will be a mix of light,music and colours. The hi-tech musical fountain has cost Rs 2.5 crore, the official said. Earlier,the Lucknow Development Authority had wanted to sell this reclaimed land along the Gomti for the construction of a hotel. However,the idea was shelved after the High Court shot down the proposal following a public interest litigation challenging the move.
