Lion’s logos, as apart of branding exercise of Making in India event, were istalled at Seven locations across city including one at Marine Drive, Mumbai. Express photo by Vasant Prabhu
A week after the Make in India event was held in the city, the lion mascot installations at various locations as part of its branding exercise have now led the Shiv Sena to complain to the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC), demanding their removal.
The Sena has claimed that some of these are in violation of heritage norms.
According to civic officials, of seven, four lion installations are at heritage sites: Gateway of India, the BMC headquarters, outside Pizza by the Bay along Marine Drive and at Kilachand Garden in Babulnath. The others are at NSCI, MMRDA grounds and at the Worli end of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
Avkash Jadhav, a Sena corporator, has said in a letter to the Heritage Committee: “Structures such as the lion logos installed at Marine Drive, Girgaum Chowpatty, Gateway of India and other places in city are disturbing the heritage precinct at Marine Drive and Gateway of India. Such installations are completely in violation of High Court directives given earlier.”
Jadhav added that necessary action should be initiated for violating the High Court directives to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
The move comes weeks after an open air gym backed by Yuva Sena president Aaditya Thackeray was removed from Marine Drive over heritage norms.
Senior civic officials said the heritage committee had been reluctant to give permission to erect the lions at the heritage sites. “Since the SC also allowed the event at Girgaum Chowpatty and the organisers sought permission only till February 18, the permission was granted,” said an official, requesting anonymity.
