A statue of Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji, unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a fort in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, collapsed on Monday.
Senior officials from the police and district administration have arrived at the site to assess the situation, and an evaluation of the damage is currently underway.
The 35-foor statue was unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4 last year on the occasion of Navy Day.
As the incident led to embarrassment for the state government and harsh criticism from the opposition, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pledged to rebuild the collapsed structure, which he noted was designed and constructed by the Indian Navy.
In a statement to news agency PTI, Shinde explained, “The statue fell due to winds blowing at 45 km per hour. It is unfortunate, especially since the Navy designed and built it. Our guardian minister, Ravindra Chavan, is on-site to assess the situation. We will rebuild the statue even stronger with the Navy’s assistance.”
The Chief Minister added that Public Works Department (PWD) personnel are scheduled to visit the site on Tuesday.
Sindhudurg guardian minister Ravindra Chavan, who also holds the Public Works Department (PWD) portfolio, announced that a case has been filed against Jaydeep Apte, the proprietor of M/s Artistry, and structural consultant Chetan Patil, both involved in the statue project.
Chavan stated, “The Maharashtra government paid Rs 2.36 crore to the Navy for the statue's installation. However, the Navy was responsible for selecting the artist and designing the statue.”
He noted that the work order was issued on September 8, 2023. Chavan also revealed that the steel used in the statue had started rusting, and the PWD had previously alerted Navy officials about the issue, requesting them to take necessary actions, reported PTI.
NCP (SP) state president and former minister Jayant Patil said, "The state government is responsible for the collapse, as it did not take proper care. The government paid little attention to the quality of work. It only focused on conducting an event where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited to unveil the statue. This Maharashtra government only issues new tenders, accepts commissions and gives contracts accordingly."
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray sharply criticised the Shinde-led government, accusing it of rushing the Shivaji Maharaj memorial project at Rajkot Fort for political gains ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He claimed the incident reflects the government's tendency to prioritise contractors over quality work and accused the BJP of a reckless mindset.
Thackeray alleged that the haste in completing the Shivaji Maharaj statue was driven by a desire for political advantage. “The same arrogance led to the rushed completion of the Shivaji Maharaj statue,” he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Vaibhav Naik, from Sindhudurg district, condemned the poor quality of construction and called for a thorough investigation into those responsible. Naik and his supporters reportedly vandalised the local PWD office in Malvan town to protest the statue's collapse. According to a police official, Naik entered the office with an iron rod and caused property damage. The police are preparing to file a case for the damage to government property, and security has been increased at Rajkot Fort.
Cabinet minister Deepak Kesarkar, from the Konkan region, reiterated the government's commitment to rebuilding the statue. “I do not have all the details about the incident. However, it's important to note that PWD Minister Ravindra Chavan, also the guardian minister of Sindhudurg district, has said a thorough investigation will be conducted into the matter,” said Kesarkar.
“We are committed to erecting a new statue at the same location. The statue unveiled by PM Modi last year pays tribute to Shivaji Maharaj's visionary efforts in building a sea fort. We will take all necessary steps to address this matter promptly and effectively,” asserted the Shiv Sena minister.
Meanwhile, former Rajya Sabha MP Sambhajiraje Chhatrapati posted an old letter he had sent to the PMO on December 12, in which he had said, “The statue does not look like a good art work.”
(With inputs from PTI)