Maharashtra: Committee to take plans for Shivaji statue forward

The long-pending project of constructing a grand 300-feet statue of Maratha warrior king Shivaji in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai seems to be finally taking shape.

The long-pending project of constructing a grand 300-feet statue of Maratha warrior king Shivaji in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Mumbai seems to be finally taking shape.

On Wednesday, the government took a decision to form a four-member action committee, under the chairmanship of Vinayak Mete, leader of the Shiv Sangram party, which is a part of the Mahayuti. The committee will also include additional chief secretary (public works department), secretary (roads) and principal secretary (environment), a government resolution (GR) issued by the general administration department (GAD) on Wednesday said.

The Rs 400-crore statue will be built on a 16-hectare rock in the sea, 1.5-km away from the Raj Bhavan and 4-km from Nariman Point. Other amenities such as a restaurant and a garden are also part of the plan.

The task of the committee, the GR says, will be to ensure that all permission related to matters of the environment, tourism and forests are sought from the Union government. The GR also asks the committee to set deadlines and ensure that the permissions come in before February 19.

The memorial was planned along the lines of the Statue of Liberty in the USA and Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari.