Shivaji Maharaj statue installation in Bamu may land in controversy

Aurangabad, May 25:

It appears that installing a statue of Shivaji Maharaj in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University may land in controversy because of land selection.

It may be noted that ‘bhoomipujan’ civil work of statue was performed at the botanical garden of the university. The World Bank Project (WBP) issued a tender of the statue work through the public works department.

The contractor concern was also given work orders. The contractor cleaned the area on Akshay Tritiya.’ Since then, the location selected for the proposed installation of Shivaji Maharaj statue is facing opposition from several quarters.

In a memorandum submitted to the vice-chancellor, Swabhimani Maharashtra Underprivileged Teachers Association (S-MUPTA) stated that the garden has many rare plants of Marathwada region. If the work of statue installation begins, it may damage plants in the garden and students/researchers may not able to see them again.

Another organisation, ‘Eco Needs Foundation’, opposed the selected land by submitting a memorandum to the vice-chancellor. In the memorandum, it was stated that many rare plants were collected from different parts of the region and preserved in the garden. The installation of the statue may pose a threat to the biodiversity of the university.

Meanwhile, the university administration issued a notice to the WBP seeking an answer for starting civil work without giving any prior information to it.