‘Restrain plan for Shivaji memorial’

File photo of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis at the site where the Shivaji memorial will be constructed

Anticipating destruction of marine life and a threat to the livelihood of fishermen, the president of a local fishermen’s body and a marine conservationist have approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), seeking restraint on the state’s plan to erect a memorial dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Arabian Sea off the Mumbai coast.

President of the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti, Damodar Tandel, and marine conservationist, Pradip Patade, filed a petition in NGT (west zone) Pune, alleging that the government was using manipulative tactics to obtain environmental and CRZ clearance, and acquire NOCs from various government agencies. The applicants’ lawyer, Asim Sarode, alleged that the ministry of environment and forests, Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board, and other concerned departments had issued NOCs for construction of the memorial without following provisions of existing laws, rules and notifications for preservation of coastal environment.

Addressing mediapersons, the applicants stressed that they were not against construction of the Shivaji memorial but its construction in the sea as that would destroy marine life and put the city in harm’s way as nature had a way of reacting vigorously. They suggested that the memorial be constructed at Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Mr Tandel, who has joined hands with the Shiv Sena, said that while the party was in favour of construction of the memorial, it had not specified that the memorial must be constructed in the sea and hence, there would be no clash of interests between him and the Sena.

The applicants, in their petition, requested the tribunal to hear the application on an urgent basis as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to visit the city in October for laying the foundation stone (bhoomi poojan) of the memorial.