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Sports complex demolition ends

Lucknow: After razing Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Museum and Library, the Uttar Pradesh Government on Monday completed the demolition of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Sports Complex to allow its 15 acres to be included in Chief Minister Mayawati’s dream project -- Bhimrao Ambedkar park.

The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on July 9, 2007 had stayed the demolition of the sports complex, but withdrawal of the PIL by one Om Prakash Yadav and Supreme Court order vacating the stay on May 9 paved the way for demolition.

Earlier, the State Government had demolished Satkar Bhawan, the Ambedkar Museum and Library, to include its land in the park area.

For the first time, dynamite was used for demolition purpose in the State, sources said.

Mayawati Government has promised an international standard stadium at Sultanpur road in the State Capital on 50 acres of land in lieu of the present sports complex, which has been razed.

The complex has produced cricketers like R P Singh and Suresh Raina, swimmers Umesh Nishad and N S Chauhan and national level weightlifters like Firox, Suresh Verma and Amit Sharma. The complex was earlier given a facelift by Mayawati Government in 1997 and provided a swimming pool, gymnasium and synthetic tennis court. An estimated amount of more than Rs 100 crore was spent on it.

“The debris lying in the stadium will be cleared in 24 hours,” a senior official told PTI.

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