Party time ahead for BSP, work begins full swing

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has already begun constructing 2,100 temporary toilets and 900 bathrooms at an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore in a nearby private township. The Jal Sansthan will supply water at the township.

Over 500 labourers are working round-the-clock at the Smriti Upvan to complete the arrangement for the rally by March 10. A team of over 40 engineers and supervisors has been deployed to ensure timely completion of the work.

To meet the deadline,the corporation staff will also be working on the occasion of Holi. “I come here in the morning and stay till late night. According to the duty schedule,I have to be here on Holi too,” said an engineer.

The corporation authorities said the BSP will reimburse the entire expenditure.

S K Singh,Lucknow Municipal Commissioner,said: “The LMC will generate the bills and the district president of BSP will collect it after the rally is over. Thereafter,the payment will be made.”

Asked about the payment of expenditure incurred by the party in the previous rallies,Singh said,“The payments are being made.”

Waterproof tents will be erected to provide shelter to party workers who are expected to arrive from across the country. “We have to complete this work by March 12,” said a contractor.

“The huge number of bamboos required to erect the temporary structures was not available in Lucknow. So,we are purchasing them from the nearby rural areas,like Barabanki,” said the contractor.

The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has invited tenders for leveling of the land inside the Smriti Upwan and cleaning of roads leading to the venue.

LDA Vice-Chairman Mukesh Kumar Meshram,however,refused to discuss the matter.

Cleaning and plantation work is also being carried out at Kanshiram Smarak Sthal on VIP road,where a film depicting the struggle of Kanshiram would be screened on same day. The road from Kanshiram Memorial to Ramabai Ambekdar Maidan is being cleaned and the road dividers are being painted.