BJP MLA wants Shivaji memorial in Konkan,not Mumbai

Jathar said,“Why has development been saturated in Mumbai? The memorial must be constructed there (Sindhudurg).” He added that it would help develop Konkan region and Sindhudurg,already designated a tourism district.

Jathar further argued that if it is built in Mumbai,it could lead to traffic problems and reclaiming land for an island could also see problems in a coastal city like Mumbai prone to the effects of rising sea levels. Jathar said the island where the Sindhudurg fort stood had an area of around 47 acres,while Vijaydurg was bigger,either of which could serve for the monument and save money that would otherwise go into reclaiming land from the sea if it is built in Mumbai. Jathar added that he was planning to file a PIL in this regard.

The government plans the 309-foot memorial,around four feet taller than the Statue of Liberty,on an island to be created in the sea a kilometre off Marine Drive. The memorial,besides a giant statue of Shivaji,will have a museum,an auditorium,internet kiosks,a revolving restaurant,food courts and an open-air theatre,among other attractions. It was a poll promise made by the ruling alliance in the state in the 2004 Assembly poll. The final design of the island,selected by the government,envisages a 150-foot-high pedestal of eight acres.