MUMBAI: Maharashtra directorate of artwork had given approval just for a 6-ft statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji for Malvan’s Rajkot fort primarily based on a clay mannequin submitted by the sculptor, its director Rajiv Mishra stated on Thursday.
He stated that when the nod was given, the directorate was not knowledgeable the statue can be 35-ft tall, nor did it know metal plates can be used within the construction.
The statue’s collapse on Monday has sparked a political controversy. An official stated Rs 2.44 crore was transferred by state PWD to Navy which was placing up the statue. Navy appointed the sculptor and advisor and as soon as the design was finalised, it was despatched for approval to the directorate. The peak would have been elevated later, the official stated.
On Aug 20, PWD had written to Navy about rusting of nuts and bolts of the statue.
“The directorate had no technique to verify structural stability or the fabric used. This was the accountability of Navy because it appointed the sculptor and advisor,” the official stated.
Mishra stated that any further, artists and sculptors needs to be requested to get ultimate approval from the directorate after a statute is erected and never simply primarily based on a clay mannequin. This needs to be a situation for approval, he added.
