CM?s Lohia Path hits a graveyard!

LOHIA PATH may soon face hurdles as a private graveyard has come in its way near Vijay Khand-I.

The private graveyard drew PWD authorities’ attention on Tuesday when its earthmovers went to get the place even and fill it with the mud. But, to their surprise they found several graves just on the side of the road. Which are not visible usually.

People from a specific community started collecting near the graveyard, soon hundreds of people collected near it forcing the PWD workers to suspend their work at that place. The owner of graveyard Mohammed Rafique alias Acchan Mian claims that this private graveyard is more than 80-year-old. It houses the graves of his grand father, father, and other relatives.

“I will not allow the filling of the graveyard by the authorities for the widening of roads. I can’t compromise with the honour and dignity of my forefathers.

Yes, I am ready for a dialogue with the authorities to chalk out some alternative so that the road could be widened at the same time graves could be protected,” said Acchan Mian.

The Rs 78-crore project developed on the stretch of road from Lucknow Golf Club to Lucknow –Faizabad  Road, is the dream project of chief minister Mulayam Singh, said a PWD official which is a constructing agency. “We can’t compromise on the quality of work and on the matter of road widening at the same time. We can’t hurt the sentiments of an individual. We are ready to find out a solution and initiate a dialogue with the concerned party.”  

The Lohia Path stretch is a six-lane highway with a pathway for pedestrians on both sides and a covered cycling track. But if the graveyard comes in the way then the road near the overbridge would remain narrow. The area is already accident-prone, claim residents of the area. It requires immediate road widening.

Work on Lohia Path started in March this year. Till now it has faced many hurdles but this one is one of the major hurdles, said an official of the PWD.
The state is expediting the pace of work so as to complete it by early next year.
The graveyard is situated in the low- lying area, the owner of graveyard has offered to construct pillars on which the road could be made and graves remain protected.

No official from the district administration was available for the comments.