Lucknow Metro Rail Project

Brit soldiers killed in 1857 stand in way of Lucknow Metro, from graves

Monday, February 18, 2013

M Tariq Khan, Hindustan Times

Lucknow, February 18, 2013

The proposed Lucknow Metro Rail Project faces a grave problem, literally.
Two nondescript British cemeteries in the state capital, listed as protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), are coming in the way of finalising the path of the tracks. "We are unable to take a call on deciding the alignment because the graves of some unknown foreigners (British soldiers) killed in the freedom struggle of 1857 are in close vicinity," an official on the panel for the metro project formed by CM Akhilesh Yadav said on Sunday.

"You cannot see the graves from outside. They are tucked away in a corner inside a crumbling structure."
The ASI has declined to provide no objection certificate for metro tracks near the cemeteries in commercial hubs Kaiserbagh and Aminabad.
Lucknow has 18 such cemeteries and many of the graves are unmarked, without epitaphs."I have to discharge my duties within the framework of law," said PK Mishra, the superintending archaeologist of ASI's Lucknow circle.

The ASI does have a provision for de-notifying sites and structures that have lost historical relevance or can no longer be preserved due to fund crunch. Mishra said a lake in the city was dropped from the list in 2005-06.

  

**The Ancient Monuments Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 and the Ancient Monuments Archaeological Sites and Remains Rules prohibit any construction or digging activity within a radius of 100 meters. The rules permit such activity on a case to case basis within a radius of 300-meters termed as regulated area under the Act. 

**Unlike other states where most historical places are located in desolate areas, In Lucknow, almost all places of historical importance are located near crowded places.

** Judicial remedy seems to be the only recourse available to have a fresh look at the criteria under which sites and monuments can be classified as protected on their historical, architectural and heritage value, feel experts   

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print/1013046.aspx

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 4 Feb 2013
Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

M Tariq Khan 

tariq.khan@hindustantimes.com

Cutting the jumbo staff flab

Seven-member panel on memorials submits 40-page report to state government, suggests better utilisation of open spaces in and around these places along with reduction in staff strength from 5,788 to 565

It’s a story of shock and awe. If you are overawed by the sheer size and scale of the BSP’s grand memorials, the manner in which the private army was hired to ensure their upkeep is bound to give you a shock.
After all, if national monuments of eminent political leaders have proper staff for their maintenance, how could the opulent tributes to Dalit ideologues be left unmanned. These seven BSP memorials and parks too required some manpower -- not just a handful of staff, but a contingent of around 1,000 servants, workers and security personnel for each Dalit landmark. The final count: a whopping 6,835-strong work force was needed to make these memorials tick with precision.

The ‘mission’ was achieved in a day. Necessary formalities and clearances required to hire the staff was granted in just 24 hours! The way overenthusiastic officials fell head over heels to comply with the orders could well make them qualify for the Guinness World Record. The task involved preparing a seven-volume report containing the nature of jobs, creation of various posts and obtaining the necessary government sanctions for these appointments.

If that sounds apocryphal fault the findings of the seven-member panel formed to downsize memorial staff and suggest better utilization of open spaces and buildings in and around these memorials. Six months after it was set up by the State Government, the committee headed by District Magistrate, Lucknow, has submitted its 40-page report to the State Government.

Against the existing 5,788-strong work force, the pruned strength of the employees would be 565 for the seven BSP monuments and parks including the memorial in Noida, state the committee’s recommendation (see box). The excess staff can be merged or engaged   by Tourism, Estate Department, Power Corporation or local bodies (like Municipal Corporation) as per their need and requirement, the report suggests. The panel makes no bone about the fact that no ‘manpower assessment’ was done or criteria was evolved before making these large scale appointments And nothing reflects this whimsical approach better than the battery of 140 employees including 21 cooks, 21 assistant cooks, 51 waiters, 55 cleaners and 14 dining area staff hired for Rama Bai Ambedkar Rally Sthal guest house, not used even once so far!

How the figure of hiring 6,835 personnel (including over 800 security staff) was arrived at remains a mystery, which finds mention for the first time in a letter written by LDA vice chairman to principal secretary, housing on June 3, 2010. In his letter, the LDA VC states that his request the Estate Department, UP Tourism Development Corporation, State Museum and the Rajkiye Nirman Nigam to provide norms for posts and appointment of staff for the management of memorials and parks, had drawn a blank. Subsequently, the LDA VC on his own recommended creation of 42 posts, which were sanctioned on June 19, 2010 by the State Government. Again on September 15, 2010 the LDA VC wrote a letter to additional secretary LDA and Managing Director Rajkiye Nirman Nigam to give a fresh proposal over the number of employees required for the upkeep of these memorials.

“A seven-volume report for the creation of 6,835 posts was prepared and presented to the Smarak Samiti (management committee that looks after these memorials) by additional secretary Lucknow Development Authority and Joint Managing Director of the Rajkiye Nirman Nigam on September 17, 2010.  The samiti’s general body gave its nod to the proposal the very next day (September 18, 2010),” the report points out. The usually lethargic bureaucracy too showed remarkable efficiency and granted official sanction to this proposal on September 24, 2010 but here the probe panel refrains from identifying them.

In the absence of any specific government guidelines and norms for the nature of work that the smarak samiti employees were required to perform, the committee relied upon the maintenance manual drafted by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) in 2000 to base its findings. The manual provides a gardener for every two-acre stretch of a park. “The total area occupied by these memorials under the jurisdiction of the smarak samiti in Lucknow is 725 acres. Of this 345 acres is green area. Hence, as per CPWD norms, the required strength of gardeners should be around 175 whereas there are 525 such posts currently in addition to 25 posts of lawn mower operators,” the report points out.

Sanitary workers, sweepers, cleaners (around 2415) form a major chunk of the total work force followed by electrical and mechanical staff. “Since there is a large number of duplicity of work involved, majority of employees do not have any role or duty to perform most of the time. Therefore, it would be advisable to outsource maintenance and other such tasks to a private firm to curtail cost,” the report suggests. A case in point is that of 117 posts each that of plumbers and helpers, 18 stone carvers, 45 stone masons, 45 masons and 108 other workers (baeldar) that have virtually no utility or work. Likewise, after retaining 57 electricians and helper electricians out of the total 186, the remaining can be sent to the UP Power Corporation.

On the availability of unutilized land and buildings, the committee has said since a large part of these memorials is green, except with the exception of Rama Bai Rally Maidan, they cannot be put to any other use. However, some surplus administrative blocks and buildings could be used for setting up a college or a hospital or given to government departments on rent. A huge vacant parking stretch near Rama Bai Rally Maidan can be utilized for establishing an International Bus Terminal, it has suggested. 

As for reducing the number of Suraksha Vahini guards, the probe panel has said that the matter had been referred to the State Home Department. Nonetheless, criticizing the slackness of these guards, the committee has stated that the management of the security force should be brought under the control of the Smarak Samiti  

Though the report has been submitted, the State Government is unlikely to take a decision any soon on the recommendation with the Budget Session round the corner for fear of an apparent political back lash. But the tenure of the smarak samiti, which is a registered society, would come to an end on February 28. “Since there are still several loose ends like short listing employees to be shifted and those to be retained, the samiti may be given a temporary extension,” said a senior official on the panel. 

“MEMORABILIA”

 

 

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal

 

The memorial is spread over 94.47 acres and only 5 per cent of the area is green. The sprawling complex and premises have following components:

 

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Smarak

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sanghralaya (museum)

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Gallery

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Samajik Pratibimb Sthal

Drashya Sthal

 

Panel’s Recommendation: The memorial is looked after by a 901 strong work force. This would now be reduced to 57.

 

 

 

Breakup of employees:

 

Category                                                          Existing                                     Proposed

 

Cleaning/civil staff                                             53                                            08

 

Horticulture section                                           68                                            06

 

Supervisor and office staff                                 53                                            16

 

Public relations/electricity/

Canteen and parking staff                                  84                                            27

 

Total                                                                258                                          57

 

 

Administrative blocks and buildings related to Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal

 

Community center and administrative block

Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Gomti Buddh Vihar

Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal

Musical Fountain

Gomti Vihar Khand- 1,2, 3 and 4

 

Other Buildings

Administrative building near Lohia Park

Administrative building near Jia Mau Chowk

Utilities and huts (12) on road leading to Prateek Sthal from Samtamulak Chowk

Jan Suvidha Parisar near Jia Mau Chowk

 

 

 

Panel’s Recommendation: 976 employees maintain these properties and open spaces, there strength would now be cut down to 74. Utilities and Huts: The 12 shops have been transferred on a 30-year-lease to UP Toursim Department, which will run a food court and crafts bazaar. Jansuvidha Parisar near Jia Mau Chowk: Canteen has been given on a token lease rent to UP Cooperative Diary Federation but four shops are still vacant. Main administrrative block building to be given on rent to National Investigation Agency, memorial staff to be relocated to store room  of the administrative block near Jia Mau Chowk, which has 15 rooms half a dozen of which have been given to Women Powerline on rent.. The open and green area of Gomti Vihar Khand 2 and 3 can be used for organizing cultural programmes.

 

 

Breakup

 

 

Category                                                          Existing                                     Proposed

 

Cleaning/civil staff                                             36                                            03

 

Horticulture section                                           154                                          35

 

Supervisor and office staff                                 39                                            09

 

Public relations/electricity/

Canteen and parking staff                                  80                                            27

 

Total                                                                309                                          74

 

 

 

Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal

 

The memorial has a total area of 46.34 acres of which 20 per cent area is green. It comprises an administrative building that has 28 rooms. The Sthal has two other buildings and is surrounded on three sides by an elephant gallery. The main complex has a 16 feet bronze statue of Kanshi Ram and six huge bronze murals.

Panel’s Recommendation: The entire premises is manned by a 653 staff, only 48 needed.

 

Breakup

 

Category                                                          Existing                                     Proposed

 

Cleaning/civil staff                                             31                                            06

 

Horticulture section                                           52                                            09

 

Supervisor and office staff                                 41                                            10

 

Public relations/electricity/

Canteen and parking staff                                  64                                            23

 

Total                                                                188                                          48

 

 

Baudh Vihar Shanti Upvan

 

The memorial has an area of 26.86 acres and its 25 per cent portion is green. The two storeyed main building besides containing two dormitories and 16 rooms to accommodate visiting scholars it comprises following sections:

Vihara Bhawan

Sadhna Room

Library Room

Administrative building

Suraksha Vahini Office

Residential area (18 quarters)

 

Panel’s Recommendation: The memorial has 668 employees, reduced strength 48. The administrative building (built on 5440 square meter) and Suraksha Vahini Office (on 2752 square meter) would become “surplus assets” after the pruned workforce is relocated. These two buildings could be given to any government office/organization. Of the 18 residential quarters on the premises, nine are allotted to employees and an equal number are lying vacant. These rooms can be given to Estate Department or to the Irrigation Department.

 

 

Breakup

 

Category                                                          Existing                                     Proposed

 

Cleaning/civil staff                                             17                                            01

 

Horticulture section                                           74                                            07

 

Supervisor and office staff                                 54                                            13

 

Public relations/electricity/

Canteen and parking staff                                  90                                            27

 

Total                                                                235                                          48

 

 

Kanshi Ramji Eco Green Garden and Jan Suvidha and Parking Space

 

Total area 182 acres out of which 65 per cent area is green. The memorial has:

Administrative Building

Jan Suvidha Parisar/Canteen

Staff quarters and dormintory

 

Panel’s Recommendation: Against existing 1272 workers only 113 are required. Canteen to be given on contract to the highest bidder and not to UP Tourism Department as per the government order on a Rs 10,000 monthly rent, which the panel found was too low. The two-storeyed administrative blocks has 21 rooms and the dormitory 17. While block can be retained for smarak samiti employees, the other block and servant quarters can be given for office purposes to any government or semi government department.

 

 

Breakup

 

Category                                                          Existing                                     Proposed

 

Cleaning/civil staff                                             41                                            08

 

Horticulture section                                           212                                          69

 

Supervisor and office staff                                 80                                            12

 

Public relations/electricity/

Canteen and parking staff                                  144                                          24

 

Total                                                                477                                          113

 

 

 

Rama Bai Ambedkar Maidan and Related Area

 

Total area: 163.77 acres of which 35 per cent is green. The Maidan has following:

Dormitory

Administrative Building

Raen Basera

Parking P-1 and P-4

Rally Sthal

VVIP Guest House

Kanshi Ram Sanskritik Sthal and Park

 

The Maidan and its related areas are looked after by a work force of 970 employees whose strength would be reduced to 84.

 

Breakup

 

Category                                                          Existing                                     Proposed

 

Cleaning/civil staff                                             36                                            07

 

Horticulture section                                           138                                          42

 

Supervisor and office staff                                 58                                            14

 

Public relations/electricity/

Canteen and parking staff                                  113                                          21

 

Total                                                                345                                          84

 

 

Panel’s Recommendation

The administrative building has 18 big halls. This building and the adjoining dormitories and Raen Basera structures, have enough space for setting up a college or a hospital even after relocating the smarak samiti’s headquarters here from Gomti Nagar. The VVIP Guest House building can be put to commercial use.

The huge, developed, vacant plot of land covered by a boundary wall earmarked for parking (P4) just next to Shaheed Path expressway can be used for establishing an international bus depot. Likewise, after leaving aside the 11 acre portion of Sanskritik Sthal, which has two statues, the remaining 70 acres of land, which has an entrance plaza, a stage and a green room, can be clubbed with 21 acre Smriti Upvan and used for commercial purposes.      

 

 

 

Rashtriya Dalit Prerna Sthal and Green Garden, Noida/Greater Noida

Two parks: Gautam Buddh Park (87.5 acres) and Baba Saheb Ambedkar Park (35 acres)

Work on the memorials in Noida and Greater Noida is still incomplete and these properties have not been transferred to the memorial committee for upkeep. The memorials are presently being maintained by 284 employees whose number would  be reduced to 110 now.

 

 

 

How Green Are Maya’s Memorials

 

Name                                                                           Area (acres)                 Green  %

 

Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal                              94.47                              05    

 

Ambedkar (outer area)                                     79                                   70

 

Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal                                            46.34                              20

 

Baudh Vihar Shanti Upvan                                            26.86                              25

 

Eco Garden                                                                  182                                 65

 

Ramabai Maidan                                                          163.77                            35

 

Noida?Greater Noida                                                   122                                 75                            

 

Sanctioned Posts for Smarak Samiti: 49

 

Chief Manager, manager (administration), manager (finance), manager, assistant manager, assistant manager (administration), assistant manager (maintenance), accounts officer, server and network engineer, assistant accounts officer, manager (electrical), manager (civil/sanitation), manager (horticulture), senior assistant cum store keeper, accountant, librarian, assistant accountant, supervisor (electrical), supervisor (civil/sanitation), supervisor (arts/statues), supervisor (public relations and ticketing), ticket clerk, store keeper, plant operator, golf cart operator, electrician, sub-station operator, cleaning and polish machine operator, tractor and trolley driver, clerk, pump operator, mate (general), tractor and trolley mechanic, plumber, cook, store helper, helpers for garbage disposal, helper (plumber), mason, gardener, assistant cook, waiter, library helper, house keeper, lawn mower operator, helper (electrician), peon    

 

Posts To Be Scrapped: 41

 

Manager (maintenance), manager (arts/statues), manager (public relations and ticketing), manager (house keeping), assistant librarian, computer operator, golf cart mechanic, safai machine mechanic, AC mechanic, façade light operator, HT electrician, swagat karmi (usher), lift mechanic, EPBX maintenance staff, computer system maintenance system, security system and gadget maintenance staff, mait, stone carver, stone mason, civil work staff, bronze cleaning-polish, granite cleaning-polish, marble cleaning and polish staff, lawn mower mechanic, lift operator, electrical equipment cleaning staff, golf cart cleaning staff, safai karamcharis (general), aweepers (toilet) security system and gadget helper, fountain cleaning staff, sandstone grinder and cleaning staff, helper- polisher cleaning staff, kitchen, VIP lounge cleaning staff, dining area cleaning staff, laundry assistant, store cleaner and gateman.