Land for Bal Thackeray memorial to be allotted soon: Devendra Fadnavis

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the process of handing over the land for a memorial to Shiv Sena founder the late Bal Thackeray was in the last stages.

The land is situated at the mayor's bungalow in Shivaji Park, Dadar.

"The process of handing over the land is in the last stage. Once the process is completed, the plot will be handed over (to the Shiv Sena Pramukh Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial Trust). The government is making all efforts to clear it on a priority," Fadnavis said here.

The CM was speaking at a press conference after paying homage to Thackeray on his fifth death anniversary.

Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray was also present at the press meet.

The proposed memorial was announced on November 17, 2015. A committee under chairmanship of the then chief secretary had suggested a few sites, but Uddhav Thackeray had approved the spot where the mayor's bungalow now stands.

Meanwhile, a Sena release said the party chief today presented a cheque of Rs 2 crore to Fadnavis for the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, to help farmers.

"The Sena president toured all the districts of the state, addressed farmer gatherings and took a strong position for the cause of cultivators due to which the government announced a loan waiver scheme.

"However, despite the government's assurance, money has not been yet deposited in bank accounts of farmers," the release stated.

"Until that happens, Uddhav Thackeray asked all his party MPs, MLAs and corporators to donate a month's salary for farmers. He himself contributed Rs 10 lakh," it added.