Mumbai: Two-thirds of Maharashtra is in the grip of a terrible drought, farmers are committing suicide, but that is not stopping the Maharashtra government from erecting a mammoth statue of Shivaji - the maratha warrior king - in the sea off Marine Drive.
The statue will cost 350 crores of rupees, enough to save lakhs of farmers in this drought year.
It's an election promise of 2004 that the government is now in tearing a hurry to fulfill. This high tech avatar will be taller than the statue of Liberty and will have a museum, revolving restaurant and helipads.
"The statue of Shivaji will be a great landmark for the city. It will be in the Arabian sea halfway between Chowpatty and Marine Drive. The platform will span 8 acres. And it will be taller than the Statue of Liberty. People can travel to it from nearby jetties," said Ashok Chavan, Chief Minister.
Over the last few weeks, the Maharashtra government has allotted a few hundred crores for scarcity relief, but it plans to ask the Centre for a few thousand crores.
So, should it be spending more than 300 crores on a statue even if it's over the next few years?
The Shiv Sena sees the Congress-NCP trying to usurp the icon it had appropriated. But given the subject of debate its criticism is muted.
"We are not against a statue to Shivaji Maharaj. We are only against the politicisation and just using the name of Shivaji Maharaj," said Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena leader.
The government's much hyped decision may still hit a road block, as it's still to get environmental clearance.
So, this could be yet another election stunt but will it get it the votes?