CM's visit sends officials scurrying at mela venue

LUCKNOW: Fearing the wrath of chief minister Mayawati, various government departments putting up their stalls at the Laxman Mela grounds — the venue of the Ambedkar mela — have quickened the pace of their preparations, with CM Mayawati expected to inspect preparations at 8:30 am on Wednesday.
Though there are six main departments that are setting up stalls, only the Gram Vikas department has begun work in earnest.The department, with the arduous task of miniaturising the Ambedkar village,, has the greatest ‘responsibility’. So, as news of the CM’s inspection spread like wild fire, there began a race against time, to put up an impressive show for Mayawati.
The entire 25,000 square feet area allocated to the Gram Vikas department has been outlined with jute mats, with demarcations for a panchayat scene, aangan wadi and a park with a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar in the centre. Officials however, wishing not to be quoted, pointed out that the park in reality, does not have anything to do with the Ambedkar Park in Gomtinagar.
The department is attempting to portray a rosy picture of a ‘model Ambedkar village’, when the reality is that most of Ambedkar villages don’t even have basic civic amenities available to villagers. Labourers have been toiling day and night, levelling land and sprinkling water on the area. Posh localities in the state capital may rightly feel envious of the mela’s venue, as the Laxman Mela grounds have already been fogged twice.
But then again, it’s CM Mayawati who’s conducting an inspection after all. Meanwhile, authorities are trying to do everything possible to make the theme of the mela village-oriented. Departments like the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), State Urban Development Authority (Suda), Soochna vibhag and the Samaj Kalyan department will be showcasing the latest developments on the rural front, at the mela. And so, modified hand-pumps and other equipment meant to benefit rural folk will be on display.
The contractor of the Ambedkar Mela said the entire fair is merely informative, with nothing on display meant for sale.
And so, for the thousands of villagers who visit the ‘village-oriented mela’ on April 14, it will be disappointing to note that everything on display will bear the ironic tag ‘For your eyes only’.