SC permits UP govt to demolish sports stadium

Lucknow, May 11 (UNI) After the Supreme Court lifted the stay on the demolition of the Ambedkhar Stadium at Gomti Nagar in the state capital on Friday last, the sports complex was razed to ground.

A large contingent of police force was deployed in the area when more than 500 labourers demolised the administrative, hostel and other buildings of the sports complex.

There was no protest from any quarters during the process and the demolisation which started late night continued till morning.

However, no official version was available about the demolisation.

On May 9, UP government had informed the Supreme Court about the withdrawal of the PIL from the Allahabad High Court challenging the government's decision to demolish the existing stadium in Gomtinagar in Lucknow.

Appearing for the government, senior advocate S C Mishra informed the bench of Justices H K Sema and Markandeya Katju that the state was thus withdrawing its application seeking permission to demolish the old stadium in wake of the new development that took place before the High Court.

Withdrawal of the PIL automatically set aside a stay order of the High Court that had restrained the State Government from taking any step in the matter.

The Mayawti government had promised to construct a new stadium of international standards in Lucknow after demolising the Ambedkar stadium.

Earlier, on July 10, 2007 the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court had stayed the UP government's decision to vacate the Gomti Nagar stadium for its amalgamation into the Ambedkar Park.

The writ petition filed by Om Prakash Yadav and others protesting the eviction of inmates from the hostel of Dr B R Ambedkar Sports Complex, the court had directed that a status quo be maintained over the sports complex.

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