Shivaji statue collapse: Search for culprit sparks blame game among agencies | Nation

PTC News Desk: The sudden collapse of a 35-feet statue of 17th-century Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Rajkot Fort in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district on August 26 has sparked a major controversy and blame game between various agencies governmental.

The statue, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 4 last year during the Navy Day celebrations, collapsed due to structural faults, raising questions about the statue’s maintenance and oversight responsibilities.

Thorough investigations and charges

Following the collapse, various media outlets launched extensive investigations to uncover the reasons behind the incident and identify the parties responsible for the maintenance of the statue. A special committee was formed to investigate the circumstances of the crash. Already, the Indian Navy and the Public Works Department (PWD) have started pointing fingers at each other.

Ajit Patil, an assistant engineer with the PWD, lodged a formal complaint with the Malvan police station about the incident, which led to a case being registered in several sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), highlighting the seriousness of the issue.

As the blame game intensified, Chetan Patil, who was in charge of the structural audit of the statue, was arrested. He informed the police that he had only designed the platform for the statue and this design was submitted to the Indian Navy through the PWD.

The construction of the statue, which was completed in just three months, was supervised and funded by the Indian Navy, with the contract for the works awarded to contractor Jaydeep Apte. However, confusion and controversy erupted over subsequent maintenance responsibilities for the statue.

Maintenance Liability Dispute

The Maharashtra state government and the Indian Navy have traded accusations over who is to blame for the statue’s poor condition and eventual collapse. Despite concerns about the statue’s state of disrepair, there appears to have been no clear action or maintenance efforts by either party in the months leading up to the collapse.

After the inauguration of the statue, the site became a popular attraction, drawing more than five million visitors to the Rajkot Fort. However, there was continued ambiguity as to who was responsible for the upkeep of the statue. According to the FIR, PWD conducts regular inspections of Rajkot Fort.

During an inspection on August 20, the PWD identified rusted nuts and bolts on the statue. Despite sending a letter to the Navy on 22 August regarding the state of the statue, no immediate action was taken, resulting in the statue collapsing four days later – a disaster that could have been avoided with timely intervention.

Indian Navy officials said the statue was designed by experts and was a collaborative effort between state government agencies and the Navy. After the unveiling of the statue, the responsibility of its maintenance would have been handed over to the local administration. The Navy also stated that its role ended after the statue was unveiled and that maintenance duties were the responsibility of state government agencies.

However, PWD sources countered that the statue, built by the Indian Navy with a contract builder, was specially built for Navy Day. They argue that while the PWD handles the general maintenance of the Rajkot Fort premises, the maintenance of the statue was supposed to fall under the jurisdiction of the Navy.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde initially attributed the statue’s collapse to strong winds and heavy rains, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute.

Details from BID

According to the FIR, contractor Jaydeep Apte undertook repairs to the statue in June itself, but it remains unclear whether these repairs were authorized by the Indian Navy or the PWD. Furthermore, no official order appears to have been issued specifying who was responsible for the care of the statue after its inauguration.

The statue, built with nuts and bolts, suffered significant corrosion from exposure to rain and sea salt, compromising its structural integrity and causing it to collapse. The FIR emphasized the urgent need for permanent repairs and solutions to prevent further deterioration.

Local residents, tourists and public representatives have expressed their displeasure with the state of the statue, asking the authorities to take swift action.

Political impact

The statue’s collapse has also sparked political controversy, with the Opposition accusing the state government of favoritism and claiming that entrepreneur Jaydeep Apte, who is currently untraceable, has links to the Mahayuti alliance, which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde’s faction) , and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction).

The incident comes at a sensitive time, just ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, with the Opposition planning to capitalize on the controversy to challenge the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Some leaders have even suggested that the collapse is a bad omen, suggesting a “curse” that could hurt the alliance’s electoral prospects.

All eyes are now on the commission of inquiry tasked with uncovering the truth behind the crash as the public waits for answers as to who is ultimately responsible for this significant failure.

Also Read: Maharashtra NEET UG 2024 Counselling: Revised Syllabus Released, Seat Allotment Results Expected Today

– With contributions from agencies