Efforts are currently underway to rebuild the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Malvan, Maharashtra. This follows the unfortunate collapse of the statue, which had only been unveiled in December of last year as part of Navy Day celebrations. The statue, standing at 35 feet, was meant to honour the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj, particularly his contributions to maritime defence and the historical connection between the Maratha Navy and the modern Indian Navy.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar visited the site recently to review the situation. In a post on social media platform X, Pawar expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasising that Shivaji Maharaj represents the self-respect and identity of the people of Maharashtra. During his visit, he also inspected the fort where the statue had been erected and assured the public that future contracts for such projects would be awarded with greater consideration of past experiences to avoid similar incidents.
The collapse of the statue has led to a significant response from the authorities. Chetan Patil, the structural consultant responsible for the statue, was arrested in Kolhapur by the local crime branch of the Kolhapur Police.
Patil was apprehended in the early hours of Friday and has since been handed over to the Sindhudurg Police, who are leading the investigation. Alongside Patil, a contractor involved in the project has also been arrested, signalling the seriousness with which the authorities are treating this case.
Following the statue's collapse, an FIR was promptly registered at the Sindhudurg Police Station. The incident has not only sparked public outrage but also prompted swift action from the Maharashtra state government.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that the government is taking decisions on a war footing to reconstruct the statue. To ensure a thorough investigation and proper reconstruction, two committees have been formed. One of these committees is specifically tasked with investigating the cause of the statue’s collapse in Malvan.
The statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was originally unveiled on December 4, 2023, during Navy Day celebrations in Sindhudurg. This event was notable as it was the first time Navy Day was celebrated in this region.
The celebrations aimed to honour the historical significance of the Maratha Navy and Shivaji Maharaj’s role in maritime defence, connecting his legacy with the modern Indian Navy. The Defence Ministry had released a statement highlighting the importance of this connection, emphasising Shivaji Maharaj’s contributions to securing the Indian coastline.
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