Oppose to land selected for Shivaji Maharaj statue

Aurangabad, May 23:

The land selection for the proposed installation of Shivaji Maharaj statue in Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University is facing opposition from several quarters.

It may be noted that the university decided to install the statue of Shivaji Maharaj on the campus. The bhoomipujan of the installation was performed recently in an oval garden reserved for study and research of the Botany Department.

In a memorandum submitted to the vice-chancellor, Swabhimani Maharashtra Underprivileged Teachers Association (S-MUPTA) stated that the garden has many rare plants of Marathwada region.

“If the work of statue installation begins, it may damage to plants of the garden and students researchers may not able to see them again,” the association said.

It demanded to install the statue in open space of history museum. The memorandum was signed by Dr Shankar Ambhore, Dr Kishor Salve and others.

Another organisation, ‘Eco Needs Foundation’, opposed the selection of the land by submitting a memorandum to the vice-chancellor.

In the memorandum, it was stated that many rare plants were collected from different parts of the region and preserved in the garden. The installation of the statue may pose a threat to the biodiversity of the university. Secretary of the foundation Gautam Rajbhoj signed the memorandum.