The granite floor of Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal in Gomti Nagar has been dug up to facilitate construction of pillars so that canopies can be erected over the statues of Chief Minister Mayawati, Kanshiram, Bhimrao Ambedkar and Ramabai Ambedkar.

Engineers involved in the task said the work will cost around Rs 50 lakh and directions have been issued to complete it by March 31.

The Sthal, which is close to the Ambedkar Memorial, was developed at a cost of Rs 6 crore. The four statues, two on either side of the road on the bank of Gomti, were unveiled by Mayawati on April 14 last year on the occasion of Bhimrao Ambedkar’s birth anniversary.

It is the same place where Mayawati’s 15 feet statue was replaced after it was found that her mentor Kanshiram’s statue was 3 feet tall than her statue.

It is not known how much the exchequer had to pay to replace the statue.

Now, after less than a year, the floor has been dug up to build canopies because, as an engineer said, exposure to sun and rain could affect the colour and the beauty of the bronze statues, each of which cost around Rs 50 lakh.

Besides, the canopy will help keep birds away which often sit on the statues and spoil them with their droppings, the engineer said.

To facilitate putting up of canopies, four iron pillars, which are over 35 feet tall, have been erected around the statues on both sides of the road.

The pillars are being covered with round-shaped Bansi Pahadpur Rajasthani stones.

Engineers admit that it shows lack of planning and the waste of money could have been avoided, but the Joint Director (Land and Development) of Lucknow Development Authority, S B Mishra, refused to comment.