Lucknow :
Distributing moti choor laddoos in political events is passe and has made way for authentic local delicacies. The state government on Tuesday served Balia’s famous ‘hathi kaan poori’ and boondi at the inauguration ceremony of the Janeshwar Mishra Park, named after the senior socialist political leader, also known as Chhote Lohiya.
The pooris are a specialty of Ballia, the birth place of Mishra, and are almost the size of an elephant’s ear. They are eaten with a curry of potatoes and pointed gourd (parwal), wet boondi and mango chutney. The same meal was served to about 18,000 people at the event in Gomtinagar Extension.
Around 200 cooks were hired from Ballia for the preparations that began four days ago.
“We are making these pudis since 4am today to feed about 16,000 people who are expected. We have brought eight quintals of desi gourds from Ballia,” said the caterer. The dining options for the VIPs included three additional vegetables and maal puas. There were 36 counters and each served about 500 plates.
For the first time in Uttar Pradesh, aluminum shades from Germany were used to protect the gathering from fire and rain. A popular dancing troop from Mathura was called to perform.
Chief secretary Alok Ranjan said, “This park will be one of the largest parks in Asia and will develop many conceptual gardens based on themes like rose, bougainvillea, Mughal, lily, French, Bombay gardens, etc.” The workers suggested an Ayurvedic garden should also be developed in the park.
The preparations in the run-up to the inauguration had been on for months. Engineers from Lucknow Development Authority had slogged throughout July to complete landscaping, plantation and construction of the 11-acre water body in the park before opening it for the public.
The chief minister, cabinet ministers, chief secretary and senior officials from the housing department visited the site many times to ensure arrangements were in place. However, overcrowding, mismanagement and heavy rains a day before ruined the venue’s decoration.
As water had seeped inside the tent where food had to be prepared, the resultant sludge had to be covered with large quantities of loose sand in the morning. Even then, many areas had turned into muddy pools.
A spectator said, “It doesn’t look like a park in the first impression. Heaps of used sweet boxes are thrown near the entrance and the soil has tuned into sludge. There is no greenery at all.”
Besides, there wasn’t adequate facility for parking cars at the venue. People left their cars in the nearby lanes, near roundabouts and on flyovers.
Info:
Proposed features of the park:
Developing the park in about 376 acres (70 acres have been developed at present)
Creating water bodies in about 40 acres
Plying boats resembling Venice’s gondolas in the water body
Developing a 10.5km pedestrian walkway
Developing a 5.28km cycling track; cycles to be given on rent
Horse riding facility, golf course, 8.85km jogging track
Plantation of 2,500 trees
Children’s play area, workout station, amphitheatre, parking space
Providing sports facilities like cricket, football, skating rink and lawn tennis
Developing volley ball, badminton, basket ball and adventure zone court
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / TNN / August 06th, 2014