The Uttar Pradesh Government spent 65 per cent of its housing department’s budget on Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal in 2007-08. And in the current fiscal year, 40 per of the Housing and Urban Development Projects’ budget is earmarked for the Sthal. This is not all. Out of the housing department’s budget of Rs 840 crore in 2007-08, the state Government spent Rs 533 crore on the Sthal and another Rs 273 crore was spent from the rest of the budget on various other memorials, leaving only Rs 34 crore for the rest of the schemes.

A study of the housing department’s budget shows that in 2008-09 there are only two projects under the Urban Development Scheme — Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal and Ramabai Park, the latter is now part of the former. Of 13 other projects, seven are memorials or parks — in the name of either Kanshi Ram or B R Ambedkar — being built in the state capital. Further, out of Rs 709 crore Housing and Urban Development budget for 2008-09, the state Government has made provisions of Rs 284 crore for the Sthal and Rs 216 crore is already earmarked for other memorials. This has left the department with Rs 209 crore for other housing schemes.

Interestingly, the Housing and Urban Development Department — commenting on the Approach Paper to 11th Five Year Plan — had stated, “construction of Ambedkar Smarak has been completed and budget provisions under this scheme are made in non-plan head”.

While commenting on the construction of BR Ambedkar International Library for Social Change and Museum, which is part of the Sthal, the department had pointed out, “most of the works under this scheme have been completed except site development and furnishing works.” However, as per the proposal submitted by UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam, there will be an additional requirement of Rs 23.38 crore to complete the project.

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