LUCKNOW, June 16 -- A political office coming up in a public park in Sarvodaynagar has brought renewed focus on the growing encroachment of parks and footpaths across the state capital. The controversy surfaced after hoardings announced a bhandara to mark the inauguration of an area divisional office inside a park in Liberty Colony known as Lal Bahadur Shastri Park. The park, developed by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC), was meant for children and local residents. Lal Bahadur Shastri-II ward corporator Bhupendra Sharma alleged that a former corporator had carried out construction inside the park and was attempting to start an office there. Sharma claimed he had written four letters to the municipal commissioner over the past several months, but no action had followed. The residents welfare association of the Liberty Park has also sent a letter to the municipal commissioner for the removal of the office from the park. The letter was shared by the ward corporator. HT visits found similar encroachments near Butler Palace Road, Aliganj and Arvindo Park, where footpaths and public spaces have been turned into offices and meeting centres....