The elephant in Mayas memorials

Status: UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam officials claimed that Ambedkar Memorial is almost complete,but contractors claimed that only 50 per cent work has been done at the pyramid and Pratibimb Sthal. Almost 30 per cent work is yet to be done in the twin stupa. They claimed that all the works would be completed in four months. More than 500 labourers were recently found working in the memorial.

Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal

This memorial is coming up on 42 acres on the Jail Road,Alambagh. In the Mayawati regime of 2003,Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Maidan was developed on this land at a cost of Rs 6.54 crore for holding political rallies and cultural programmes. After Mayawati again became Chief Minister in May 2007,she decided to build a Kanshi Ram Memorial there. So far,Rs 370 crore has been spent on it. In the supplementary budget tabled last month,state government had sought an additional Rs 19.80 crore for further construction in this memorial.

Status: Officials said that work of memorial is complete. But during a visit this week it was found that a large stretch of the granite flooring was yet to be done. More than 100 labourers were found working inside the memorial.

Kanshi Ram Bahujan Nayak Park

This park has been developed on 4,800 sq metres at the cost of Rs 4 crore. This land is the property of the Estate Department. Recently,this park has been merged with the adjacent Bahujan Prerna Kendra. Construction was started on May 1,2008,and Mayawati unveiled the statues here on October 9,on the death anniversary of Kanshi Ram.

Status: Completed.

Ramabai Ambedkar Rally Sthal

It is being developed on 51 acres at Bijnaur Road as a venue for political rallies and cultural programmes. Last year,the state government allocated Rs 65 crore for this project. Last month,state government has sought another Rs 56 crore in supplementary budget for continuing construction here.

The state government had started process for acquisition of over 100 acre land for developing parking of rally maidan but local residents had challenged this move in Allahabad High Court. Now,the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) is developing a parking place on 30-acre land in Vrindavan scheme of UP Housing and Development Board at Rae Bareli Road at the cost of Rs 40 crore.

Status: Construction of a guest house underneath the stadium is going on. Sources said that almost 20 per cent work is yet to be done and the project may take at least four more months. More than 300 labourers are engaged to complete these projects by September-end.

Kanshi Ram Sanskritik Sthal (Smriti Upwan)

Ignoring the objections from the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court over renaming and making any change in the design of Smriti Upwan,which was developed on a 101-acre area on Bijnore Road in memory of Kargil martyrs,the LDA carved out 80 acre land to develop Kanshi Ram Sanskritik Sthal in 2008. Last year,the state government allocated Rs 90 crore for its development and work started in November 2008. Recently,the state government earmarked another Rs 56 crore for this project in the supplementary budget.

Status: This project will also take at least six months to complete

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal

This memorial has been developed over 2 acres on the Gomti embankment. Work was started here in November 2007 and was completed in April 2008 at a cost of Rs 7 crore.

Status: The main memorial building is complete. But after directions of Mayawati,LDA has recently started development of a path along the embankment. This may take up to two months.

Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Vihar

The LDA has developed it on the Gomti embankment on a stretch of over 700 metres from Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal to Ambedkar Memorial police outpost. A four-side facing white marble statue of Gautam Buddha has been placed in the middle of the road. Mayawati had dedicated this project to the nation on June 25.

Status: Completed

Manyawar Kanshi Ram Yaadgar Vishram Sthal

This guest house is being developed at 13,Mall Avenue,which was initially allotted to Mayawati in the capacity of ex-chief minister. The bungalow on this 4224.92 sq metre plot was demolished to make way for this guest house. The project cost more than Rs 12 crore.

Bauddha Vihar Shanti Upwan and Sharda Canal Front Development

This monument,dedicated to Lord Buddha,has come up on 6,000 sq metre land on VIP Road in Alambagh,at a cost of more than Rs 100 crore. An air-conditioned guest house has been developed here for Buddhist monks. Officials said that monks will stay here and do research on Buddhism. A library is also being set up for research scholars. The government is hiring staff members with hotel management degree to run this memorial.

Also,a Rs 100-crore facelift is being given to a 3.5 km stretch of adjacent Sharda Canal from Kanpur Road to Bangla Bazaar.

Status: Almost 10 per cent work still to be completed. Construction of a parking lot is underway and that may take at least one month.

Eco Park

This 50-crore eco-park is being developed on 30-acre area vacated in Alambagh after demolishing Parikalp Nagar residential colony and adjacent building of Central Design Directorate of the Irrigation Department. Sources said that its main feature will be a huge metal fountain that has already been placed.

Status: Officials say development of a walking track could take three months.

Samta Mulak Chowk and Ambedkar Chauraha

The Public Works Department is developing two roundabouts and two triangular crossings at Samta Mulak Chowk,earlier known as Uptron crossing. Statues of four Dalit icons including Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj,Narain Guru and Jyotiba Phule have been placed inside these roundabouts. LDA is developing a new gate of Gandhi Setu near Jiamau crossing at the cost of Rs 10 crore.

Status: Samta Mulak Chowk has been completed. Work of widening of Ambedkar Chauraha may take two weeks to complete.

Buddha Shanti Upwan

The LDA is developing this park over 18 acres in Sector-H on Kanpur Road. The cost of this project is Rs 15.15 crore. Officials claimed that an open amphitheatre in the shape of lotus will be an attractive feature of this park.

Status: Almost 50 per cent has been completed and rest will be completed by February 2010. Over 250 labourers have been engaged.

Bahujan Prerna Kendra

It has been developed in posh South Avenue area near Raj Bhavan. Mayawati had dedicated Prerna Sthal to nation in June 2005. It houses life-size statue of Mayawati,Kanshi Ram and BR Ambedkar. The Will of Kanshi Ram has been engraved on a stone wall placed inside it. Mayawatis effort was to turn this building into a place of pilgrimage for the under-privileged.

Another eco-park in the offing

The state government has recently got permission from the Supreme Court to demolish Lucknow Jail premises located adjacent to Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal. The government has decided to develop an eco-park on the 195-acres of land that will be vacated after demolition of the jail. In the supplementary budget,the state government had earmarked over Rs 199.89 crore for this new eco-park.