This time,Maya stops the men and machines

For the first time in over two years,all men and machinery were moved out,and the compounds were locked. Construction had so far been round-the-clock,pausing only on Holi and Diwali — and even after the government promised the Supreme Court it would stop work on September 8,furious activity had continued behind shut gates.

“We generally don’t go by newspaper reports. We ignore them. But it is a very serious matter. You are playing with fire. Our orders cannot be violated,” the judges said. Reports and pictures had shown proof of continuing work at the Rs 2,600 crore Dalit memorial sites.

“We feel that under the pretext of maintenance work,the undertaking is clearly violated,” the Bench said. “In view of the undertaking (given by senior counsel and Mayawati’s aide S C Mishra on September 8),no formal order (to stop work) was passed by us.”

However,“the photographs in the newspapers tell a different story,though a denial has been given by the state government’s spokesperson,” the Bench said. “How can anybody be allowed inside or around?

“In view of this,we have no other option but to pass a formal injunction order (of stoppage of work)… We direct all construction activities,repair and maintenance be stopped forthwith.”

The court ordered the state to ensure that “barring the watch and ward staff,no person shall be present in and around the sites within the next six hours”,which meant by 7 pm in the evening today.

The court also show-caused the UP chief secretary for dishonouring the state’s commitment,and asked him to explain in “unambiguous” terms the nature of the construction activity at the sites.

In passing the order,the court declined to accept UP government counsel Harish Salve’s plea that the matter could wait till Monday. On a demand by the petitioners that the CRPF should guard the sites as the state police could not be expected to be impartial,the court said,“We shall see later.”

The next hearing is on September 18.

Outside the construction site at the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal,also called Ambedkar Memorial,in Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar,suddenly-out of work labourers hung about. Some 500 of them were working on three incomplete projects inside the complex — the twin stupas,the pyramid and the pratibimb,all coming up on 25 acres of land that was incorporated in the memorial compound after demolishing the Ambedkar Sports Complex in May 2008.

Sources said over 50 per cent of work on the pyramid and pratibimb,and over 20 per cent work at the stupas remained to be completed,and it could take four months or more. The three structures are estimated to cost around Rs 800 crores,according to sources in the UP Rajkiya Nirman Nigam,which is executing the projects.

“Without giving any reason,the supervisor has asked me to leave for now. He has assured that he will call me back when work will restart,” said Shankar Lal,a labourer from Lakhimpur district.

Following the court order,work stopped at the Kanshiram Smarak Sthal on VIP Road,Kanshiram Sanskritik Sthal (Smriti Upwan),and Ramabai Ambedkar Rally Sthal as well.