New site for Kusumagraj memorial selected

NASHIK, DECEMBER 17: The row between the State Government and the Nashik Municipal Corporation NMC over the site of the proposed memoria...

NASHIK, DECEMBER 17: The row between the State Government and the Nashik Municipal Corporation NMC over the site of the proposed memorial for Gyanpit Award winner and Marathi litterateur Vishnu Waman Shirwadkar alias Kusumagraj8217; has taken a new turn, with the NMC suggesting a new site for the purpose.

The office-bearers of the Kusumagraj Pratisthan inspected the new site along Gangapur Road and expressed satisfaction over the 9,000 square metres plot of land. A formal resolution is to be moved in the general body of the NMC on December 20 after receipt of a letter from the Pratisthan. Mayor Dr Shobha Bachhav said that all formalities would be completed before February 15 to expedite the creation of the memorial.

Kusumagraj died on March 10, 1999 and the then chief minister Narayan Rane had announced in Nashik that the government would provide Rs 5 crore for a memorial and would release the first instalment of Rs 50 lakh promptly. However, when the government failed to act for six months, the chairperson of the Kusumagraj Pratisthan, retired Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari, had made an appeal to the people of Nashik to contribute for the memorial.

Subsequently, Rane announced that the government was committed to the funding of the memorial, but said that no funds would be released until the site was finalised. The Pratisthan had asked for a 6,500 sq m plot of land near the municipal swimming pool. However, the NMC refused to part with the land on grounds that it was reserved for a childrens8217; park and a planetarium.

Later, in October, the State Government had directed the NMC to dereserve the plot to facilitate the creation of the memorial. But, the NMC had refused to comply and stated that it would suggest some other site.

About a fortnight ago, Minister for Cultural Affairs Ramkrishna More who was on a visit to Nashik had said that the State Government8217;s commitment to fund the memorial was confined to a onetime lumpsum amount of Rs 50 lakh only and that the Cabinet notes of the previous government did not mention any commitment for Rs 5 crore.

He had urged the NMC and the Pratisthan to finalise the site within 15 days to set the ball rolling. Accordingly, the NMC had suggested the plot of land to the Pratisthan for the memorial.