Stuck in limbo ever since the Assembly polls in UP last year, inauguration of the Rastriya Dalit Prerna Sthal in Noida has become a bone of contention for the local authorities. The park is yet to be opened for public even as a huge amount is being spent on its maintenance. The park, constructed by the then BSP regime, is gathering dust even after 18 months of its grand inauguration by Mayawati.
Spread over 84-acre of land, the sprawling park was inaugurated in October 2011. Situated on the Delhi-Noida border, the park was expected to attract a large number of visitors from both the cities, but even the authorities are in dark about the opening of the park. No date has been decided yet and we are still waiting the Government’s order, officials said. However, the BSP blames political reasons for its delay and said it was set to become a political issue.
The visitors are not allowed entry to the park. However, nearly 200 workers and three dozen security guards have been involved in maintenance and security of the garden which has 24 pink sandstone elephants, and 12 life-size statues of Mayawati, Kanshi Ram and Dr Ambedkar resulting in huge expenditure of public money. The park has been built at the cost of `685 crore.
According to a district administrative official, the status of the park remains the same and the decision regarding its opening will be taken once the State Government gives the go ahead. “As we have no orders regarding this, we cannot predict about the possible date of its opening. We are in constant touch with the Noida Authority officials and the State Government and if any development takes place it will be announced accordingly,” said Kumar Ravikant Singh, District Magistrate of Gautambudh Nagar.
Accusing SP Government for the delay, Surendra Singh Nagar, Member of Parliament (Gautambudh Nagar), said that the Government is ruining the park for its political vendetta. “As the park was constructed for the people of the city, the Government is scared and wants to halt all developmental projects including the Prerna Sthal announced by Mayawati. We will raise this issue before the general elections,” he said.
Notably, the project since the day of its announcement has been in controversy. After its announcement, many people including environmentalists opposed felling of thousands of trees at the site of the Prerna Sthal.
In November 2011, the Chief Election Commissioner had ordered covering the statues of Mayawati and the elephants in the park so as to prevent the BSP from taking political mileage in UP Assembly elections. After change of guard in lucknow some Samajwadi Party supporters allegedly vandalised a few statues of Mayawati. However, strict security measures have been taken to
avert recurrence of such
incidents.