Apex court seeks details on construction in Lucknow park

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Tuesday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to file an affidavit listing the construction activities it was undertaking at a 195-acre eco-park located on Lucknow’s Jail road.

The park is being developed on the land where the old jail of Lucknow city existed earlier.

The land for the park was made available after the old jail was shifted to new premises set up at Mohanlal Ganj on the outskirts of the city.

An apex court bench of Justice P. Sathasivam and Justice Anil R. Dave issued the direction to the state government on an application filed by Sangam Lal Pandey.

Pandey alleged that in the name of constructing a boundary wall, entrance and public convenience, the state government was undertaking huge construction in the green area.

Pandey told the court that concrete structures were being constructed in the park which would be subsequently used to put up statues.

He said that the park was being so developed that one portion of it would integrate with the adjoining Manyavar Kanshiram Samarak Sthal.

He said that this was contrary to the undertaking given by the state government in the apex court saying that 195 acres of old jail land would be used only for developing the eco-park.

The court was told that though the government claims to be developing a green area, it had cut 8,000 old trees which could have been integrated in the eco-park.

The petitioner told the court that the government had given an undertaking in court that it would not demolish the old jail building but it has already levelled three big ponds in the complex.

Pandey sought to support his contention with photographs of the construction activities being carried out at the eco-park.

Looking at one of the photographs, the court wondered if it was a boundary wall or putting up of a dam structure. At this, counsel for state said that these boundary walls were being constructed to check the entry of anti-social elements into the park.

Taking note of another photograph, the court asked the state government’s counsel as to why they need more than 100 pillars for constructing public conveniences.

The court said that the affidavit, to be filed by a senior officer of the state, should indicate the construction activities being undertaken at the park.

The court said that from the huge amount of construction material dumped at the eco-park it appears that the state intends to build a huge structure there. The matter will come up for hearing after two weeks.