Latest memorial site advantageous

The 40-acre islet in the Arabian Sea, the latest site for the memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji falls under the Coastal Regulation Zone 4, which makes it more likely for the project to get clearance from the environment ministry. The location of the islet, which is about 1.5 kms away from Raj Bhavan, will help hasten the process of getting clearances. A senior officer from the general administration department said that this is the third site explored since the state government took a decision to install the statue in the Arabian Sea. The islet is of 15.6 hectares, or 40-acre and easily visible during low tide. Earlier, sites were being rejected because of hurdles and complications that would come up while executing the project. The first site was 500 metres away from Chowpatty, but there were a lot wires passing from the site, due to which execution was almost impossible. The second site was two kms away from Chowpatty, but it needed a lot reclamation, informed the official. “The latest site is the best as it already has permission of a light house. It also comes under CRZ-4, so environmental clearance will not be an issue for it. We are planning a statue with a garden on the surface. The height is also being increased from 309 feet to 312 feet. We have also planned an underground auditorium, art gallery, museum, library and an aquarium,” added the officer. Confirming the plan, P.S. Meena, principal secretary from the general administration department said that the environment department had been asked to take in-principle clearance from the Union environment ministry. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute and National Institute of Oceanography has been asked to conduct a feasibility study of the plan.