Samajwadi Party government plans to beautify areas around disputed site in Ayodhya

LUCKNOW: In a bid to improve amenities and give a fresh look to the areas around the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, the Samajwadi Party government has chalked out an elaborate plan to beautify the place - a first-ever attempt since the Supreme Court ordered a status quo at the disputed site in the temple town.

The state government has recently sanctioned funds for the repair and rebuilding of the barricades and some temporary constructions around the site to give it a fresh look. Two separate orders to this effect (copies are with TOI) were issued on July 8 for the police department to make necessary arrangements.

A senior state government official confirmed about the government's plans to provide better facilities at the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site. He also said that the proposed beautification plan would not violate the 'status quo' order issued by the Supreme Court. The entire work has to be completed before March 2016.

Apart from the repair and beautification, the government has also sanctioned three noiseless generators of 124 KVA each to be installed at the site so that proper lighting arrangements could be made. The government has sanctioned Rs 33 lakh for the generator sets and Rs 76 lakh for the repair and maintenance and temporary constructions around the disputed site.

This is first the attempt by any government since the Supreme Court had asked to maintain status quo around 2.75-km disputed site after the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. So far, only soiled tarpaulin covering the site have been changed from time to time for a foolproof protection of Ram Lala idols kept inside.