India is all set to build the world’s tallest statue in the Arabian Sea. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of this project on December 24.
The statue is of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a 17th-century ruler who fought against the Mughals and expanded the Maratha kingdom. He is known for his war tactics throughout the country.
“Even in the midst of struggle, Shivaji Maharaj remained a torchbearer of good governance. So many aspects of his personality inspire us,” Modi said at the inaugural ceremony.
This statue will be completed by 2019 and Maharashtra Government is expected to spend around 36 billion rupees ($530 million).
The project has sparked criticism for its humongous budget. It is a multi-million project and an online petition against its construction has also begun online.
Twice the size of Statue of Liberty and five times higher than Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janerio, this statue will be constructed off an island near Mumbai and will be 192 meters (630 feet) tall. It is 128 meters taller than the Spring Temple Buddha in China, which is currently the tallest statue in the world.
An online petition has been started by change.org which is signed by more than 30,000 people. These people want the government to spend the money on more resourceful activities like infrastructure and education.
“Apart from a waste of money, this statue is going to be terrible for the environment; for the traffic situation in South Bombay and a security nightmare,” the petition mentioned.
Shivaji Maharaj is revered by many in the state of Maharashtra. Modi had started the construction of another statue in 2014, set in Gujarat. It is of Sardar Vallabhai Patel and will stand 182 meters tall costing ₹25 billion rupees ($368 million).
source: scrolltoday