New Delhi, Sep 11 - The Supreme Court Friday threatened the Uttar Pradesh government with contempt proceedings for continuing construction at various memorial sites in Lucknow despite promising to stop work.

Enraged over reports of unending work at the sites, Justice B.N. Agrawal and Justice Aftab ordered the state government to 'stop forthwith all activities, including construction, repair and maintenance'.

The memorials are being erected for leaders including Chief Minister Mayawati.

The judges also asked the state government 'to clear all the memorial sites of all the construction materials and workers within six hours, by 7 p.m. Friday'.

The bench issued the contempt notice to the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary after taking note of news reports that construction activity was on even hours after the state government assured the court Tuesday that it would not undertake further work.

Furious over the Mayawati government going back on its own word to the court, the bench said: 'You (the state government) are trying to play with fire.'

Maintaining that it generally does not take note of press reports, the bench said it was forced to act in view of the state government's dismal record of honouring its own promises.