Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has raised concerns about the feasibility and cost of constructing the proposed grand memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea off Mumbai. Thackeray, on Saturday, emphatically stated that despite promises from various governments, building the memorial in the sea is both impractical and impossible.
The idea for the monument was initially introduced two decades ago in 2004 by the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government. Subsequent administrations, including those of the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiv Sena, the MVA (Shiv Sena-UBT)-Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (SP), and the present Shiv Sena-BJP-NCP rule, have kept the proposal alive. Despite the anticipation of significant progress after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s symbolic ‘Jal Pooja’ at the proposed site on December 24, 2016, the project is yet to materialize.
Raj Thackeray dismissed the claims that the proposed statue would surpass the height of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. He emphasized that the chosen location is a tiny rocky island firmly embedded on the sea bed. Thackeray highlighted the challenges of constructing an artificial islet for the monument, estimating a cost of ₹25,000-30,000 crore in today’s economy. He questioned the necessity of such a colossal expenditure, suggesting a focus on revamping the majestic forts built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which form the real legacy.
Thackeray’s stance echoes sentiments expressed eight years ago, emphasizing that investing in the preservation and enhancement of existing historical sites would better serve future generations. The debate surrounding the proposed sea memorial raises questions about the prioritization of resources and the preservation of cultural heritage.
