Thackeray memorial formalities to be completed in a year

Mumbai: All formalities for construction of a grand memorial of late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray will be completed in a year's time, Maharashtra Minister of State for Urban Development Ranjit Patil said today.

He was replying to a debate on Calling Attention notice moved by Dr Neelam Gorhe (Shiv Sena) in the state Legislative Council.

Patil assured the Upper House that money will not be a constraint for construction of the memorial.

"The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has in its 2016-17 annual budget made an initial token allocation of Rs 1 crore for the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and appointment of project consultant," he said.

The General Administration Department (GAD) of state government is implementing the project with a time-line and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be followed to find a way out to the problems faced in the process, he further said.

"The government has earmarked the Mumbai Mayor's bungalow at Shivaji Park in Dadar, as suggested by the empowered committee headed by Chief Secretary in November 2015, for the memorial construction," he said.

Patil assured that registration of a trust (which will be entrusted with the responsibility of upkeep of the memorial), drawing up of DPR and appointment of project consultant will be done in a year's time.

He said the land will be given on lease for 30 years to the trust, which is being modelled on the lines of Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan which shall include government officials as members.

The trust needs to be registered under the Mumbai Public Trust Act, 1950, he said.

Some clearances like regarding the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) will be obtained, as done in the case of Indu Mill land (for Dr Ambedkar Memorial), he added.