Govt does a U-turn on Shivaji statue site

Replying to a discussion regarding the delay and possible change in location for the 309-ft statue off Marine Drive,Chavan accepted that there had been delays in getting the project started. However,he promised to obtain the required permissions in a year. He said the government would prepare a “detailed concept note” for approval from the environment department. He said the government needs to check whether the four-hectare area would have to be reclaimed for the project and other details regarding reclamation.

“When I met the then environment minister Jairam Ramesh,I explained to him that this was a sensitive and emotive issue in Maharashtra. It should be resolved at the earliest. I have also reminded the new minister and we will prepare a detailed project report. Once the concept is prepared,we will approach the ministry for clearance,” said Chavan.

He said CRZ regulations do not mention rules for building a statue. He said the statues that were built off the coast were before any rules came into force and others were on existing islands.

He clarified that the union Ministry for Environment and Forests (MoEF) had not denied permission to the project as contended after deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s statement that the government was looking for an alternative site for the statue.

Chavan said the site may be shifted a few metres but would be built in the sea. He assured the legislature that government would get CRZ rules modified if they proved to be a problem while erecting the memorial.

Giving a chronology of events since the concept of building the statue,which will stand four feet taller than the Statue of Liberty,Chavan said General Administration Department is in the last stages of signing an agreement with international bidders for the project.

He said in October 2005,a high-power committee has selected a site which was one km off Marine Drive. In August 2006,the Naval command gave its clearance to the site but warned about submarine cables running along the site. The government also tried to get Mumbai Port Trust approval to the location during that period.

After receiving competitive bids for the design of the memorial in 2008,the state cabinet in 2009 approved the design prepared by Team One Pvt Ltd. He said since then,the law and judiciary department,which had been looking into the agreement to be drawn between the government and Team One,has prepared a draft for the same.

“Due to technical aspects like who should pay the consultants,the agreement has not been finalised yet,” said Chavan.