Fort's Shivaji Statue Base Cracks, Opposition Points Finger at Government in Rajkot
Revamped Dispatch:
Mumbai's Latest Statue Fiasco:
The Maharashtra government finds itself under fire following the collapse of a pedestal at Rajkot fort where a grand 91-foot statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was recently erected. Just a month after its unveiling, the heavy downpours caused soil subsidence beneath the statue's base, leaving a gaping hole that's raised eyebrows about the construction's quality.
On May 11, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled the towering statue at Rajkot fort. However, the festivities were short-lived when a large hole appeared in the pedestal due to eroding land caused by heavy rains. The district administration promptly took measures to stabilize the situation.
NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar snubbed the Mahayuti government, commenting, "The state government boasted that the statue would stand tall for a century, but it's already showing signs of shaky foundations within mere months. It's questionable if this government is honoring great men as symbols of inspiration or just offering glitzy contracts."
Pawar isn't alone in his criticism. Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sakpal accused the government of poor construction quality, stating, "If the statue developed a hole in a month, imagine the construction quality of the entire endeavor. The statue was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024, yet it collapsed within eight months, plagued by enormous corruption. The new statue was created to amend past mistakes, but like its disastrous predecessor, it too has fallen victim to shoddy workmanship."
PWD minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale assured that the statue is stable and measures are being taken to repair the affected area. Despite this, allegations persist, with critics questioning the government's commitment to historical preservation and the establishments' integrity.
The 91-foot bronze statue marks the second attempt at creating a monument in Honor of the 17th-century Maratha warrior king at Rajkot Fort. The 40-foot statue installed previously crumbled in August 2024, sparking public anger. The government pledged to replace the fallen statue with a taller and more enduring design. Sadly, this incident casts doubt on the success of that mission.
[Source: 1, 2, 3, 5] [Brief Insights:]- The recent installation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Rajkot Fort was affected by heavy rains and soil subsidence.- The incident has sparked allegations of poor construction quality given a previous collapse at the same site in 2024.- The current controversy fuels public discontent and questions the Maharashtra government's commitment to historical preservation.
- The ongoing controversy over the collapsed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue at Rajkot Fort has drawn attention to other pressing issues, such as war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, crime-and-justice, general-news, and car-accidents, as citizens request transparency and accountability in these areas, too.
- Amid the political debate over the collapsed statue, some have called for stricter legislation to ensure construction quality and historical preservation, emphasizing that these matters are critical in politics.
- The controversy surrounding the collapsed statue at Rajkot Fort may not only impact the Maharashtra government's reputation for historical preservation but also affect public trust in government infrastructure projects and induce worry about future accidents, city planning, and environmental concerns.
