The Maharashtra government on Tuesday directed the project proponents of Shivaji memorial statue to stop construction with immediate effect.
A letter issued by the state public works department (PWD) to the project director of the private company, constructing the statue off the Mumbai coast, highlighted a recent Supreme Court (SC) order and verbal directions to the state’s counsel last Friday to stop going ahead with construction till the matter is heard.
“As per intimation of the order dated January 11 passed by the SC, the court has asked the state not to proceed with construction activity of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial (CSMM) in the Arabian Sea. You are requested not to proceed with construction activity with immediate effect,” read the letter issued by the executive engineer, CSMM project division, PWD, Cuffe Parade.
Another letter issued to the principal secretary, PWD by advocate Nishant R Katneshwarkar, counsel for the state in SC, highlighted the oral directions by the SC bench.
“The court has orally asked the state not to proceed with the construction activity… the state will have to file a counter affidavit in response to SPL. You are, therefore, requested to depute a responsible officer to give instructions to prepare and file a counter affidavit,” the letter read.
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