State identifies rock in sea for Shivaji memorial

After a series of flip-flops, the state government has taken a step forward in the plan to build a grand marine memorial to Shivaji and has identified an 18-acre rock in the Arabian sea for the memorial, HT reports.

After a series of flip-flops, the state government has taken a step forward in the plan to build a grand marine memorial to Shivaji and has identified an 18-acre rock in the Arabian sea for the memorial.

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The rock is located 4.5km off Marine drive, between Navy Nagar and Raj Bhavan in Malabar Hill, said guardian minister Jayant Patil on Monday. A committee headed by Patil, formed last month to revisit the proposal for the memorial, identified the location.

“Building the memorial on a rock will save us the cost of reclaiming the land for the 9-acre structure. We have taken geo samples for establishing the rock’s strength and have commissioned a report on the oceanography of the surrounding sea,” said Patil, adding that the two reports were expected by January 10.”

Though the state had mooted the plan for the Rs. 350-crore memorial to the Maratha warrior before the 2004 Assembly elections, the proposal was put on the back burner in the light of environmental concerns.

“We will be able to take a final call on the site by January 17 and then seek permission from authorities concerned,” said Patil.