At Maya memorials,parks,Shivpal tries to smell out graft

PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav today inspected various parks and memorials constructed in Lucknow during the previous Mayawati government and queried officials about the costs involved in their construction. Ever since the Samajwadi Party has come to power,it has been alleging corruption in the construction of these memorials. Officials of the Housing and Urban Planning […]

PWD minister Shivpal Singh Yadav today inspected various parks and memorials constructed in Lucknow during the previous Mayawati government and queried officials about the costs involved in their construction.

Ever since the Samajwadi Party has come to power,it has been alleging corruption in the construction of these memorials.

Officials of the Housing and Urban Planning Department,Public Works Department and Irrigation Department accompanied the minister during the three-hour inspection that began from Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal in Gomti Nagar at 6 am.

Story continues below this ad

Sources said the minister also inspected the administrative block of the Ambedkar Memorial,Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateel Sthal and Samta Mulak Chowk in Gomti Nagar. He also visited the Kanshiram Green Eco Garden,Kanshiram Smarak Sthal and Budha Vihar Shanti Upwan in Alambagh area.

A UPPWD official said: The minister mainly quizzed officials about the cost of statutes,fountains,buildings and trees. He has sought details of construction cost of certain structures and statues erected in different memorials like Green Eco Garden,Budha Vihar Shanti Upwan and Ambedkar Memorial. Yadav did not show any concern for the maintenance of the memorials,the official added.

At Budha Vihar Shanti Upwan,the minister said the demolition of Parikalp Nagar building was unfortunate. The Irrigation Department building was demolished overnight under the Mayawati government to make way for the Budha Vihar Shanti Upwan on VIP road. Soon after taking charge of Irrigation and PWD departments,Yadav had asked officers to furnish reasons for demolition of the Parikalp Nagar building.

At Kanshiram Green Eco garden,the minister questioned officials about the demolition of old and historical jail building for construction of Green Eco Garden. The minister asked asked officials about the significance of trees and animals sculpted in bronze at the Green Eco Garden, said an official.

Story continues below this ad

Statues of Mayawati,BSP founder Kanshiram,BR Ambedkar and his wife Rambai have been erected at several places in these parks. Sources said the minister sought to know the cost at which the statues were built.

Shivpal is the first minister of the SP government to visit these memorials and parks. State Chief Secretary Jawed Usmani had earlier inspected these sites on April 28.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram