The political storm in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district continues to brew over the collapse of the grand statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Leaders like Prime Minister Modi, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar have apologized for the incident. Meanwhile, 'Aaj Tak' investigates the materials used and who approved the statue's height.
Initial reports indicated permission was for a 6-feet tall statue, but it eventually stood 35-feet tall. Further reports mentioned that the statue was initially planned to be made from clay but was later constructed using stainless steel and other materials. 'Aaj Tak' brings you comprehensive details about the approval process for such statues.
Statue Construction Regulations
The opposition has alleged a major scandal and demanded the resignation of the Maharashtra government. According to sources from 'Aaj Tak,' any statue of renowned and historical figures requires approval from the Directorate of Art, Maharashtra, headed by Professor Rajeev Mishra.
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Who is at Fault? PWD and Navy Blame Game in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Statue Collapse
On Indian Navy Day, the Navy Yard awarded the tender to artist Jaydeep Apte. Accused sculptor Jaydeep Apte created a clay statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and approached the Directorate of Art, Maharashtra for approval. Top sources of the department suggest that the Directorate's role is confined to approving facial expressions, physical proportions, artistic attributes, and likeness to ensure the statue resembles Shivaji Maharaj.
Department sources indicate that any agency wishing to construct a statue in Maharashtra must apply for approval from the Directorate of Art. The Directorate has a committee of experts, primarily historians, whose role is to scrutinize facial features, expressions, physical proportions, and likeness to the person the statue represents.
The Initial 6-feet Statue
Reports state that Jaydeep Apte initially made a 6-feet tall clay statue, and after it passed the likeness test, it was approved by the Directorate of Art, Maharashtra. The department authorized the Indian Navy. Critically, the Directorate does not have the authority to decide on the statue's height or material used. There is no regulation requiring the Directorate to be informed about the height and materials used for statue construction.
The department cannot even supervise the statue work. It is the responsibility of the contracting agency, which in this case was the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy can use any material and build the statue at any height with the approval of a structural consultant who issues the stability certificate. Accused Chetan Patil was supposed to provide the stability certificate via his company.
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Navy Declines to Comment
Notably, the statue's foundation is crucial and requires permission from the PWD. Sources report Chetan Patil obtained permissions for the base from the PWD. The Indian Navy was supposed to oversee the construction. However, the Navy declined to comment, stating that an investigation is ongoing, and facts will emerge post-investigation.
The Navy issued the order for the statue's construction. The Navy Yard, Mumbai, awarded Jaydeep Apte the work order on Indian Navy Day. Chetan Patil was appointed as the structural consultant for the statue's stability and base. Supervision was to be done by the Indian Navy. However, the Indian Navy stated that maintenance and repairs post-inauguration were the responsibility of state government agencies.
