Mumbai Mayor asks civic body to maintain Shivaji statue

After mid-day's report on the statue of Maratha warrior king Shivaji at Shivaji Park not being properly maintained (‘No clarity over who will maintain Shivaji statue', February 20), Mayor Snehal Ambekar has said, "I will ask the BMC commissioner to bring the statue of Shivaji under civic control".

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Ambekar also wrote to the municipal commissioner on Monday, asking the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take over the maintenance of the statue from the Public Works Department (PWD). Her letter also follows a letter to her by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporator Santosh Dhuri, requesting her to ask BMC to undertake maintenance of the statue.

mid-day's report on February 20

This paper had reported that the PWD had asked the BMC to undertake maintenance of the statue. The PWD had written a letter to the BMC last year, asking them to do the same. The department had cited lack of manpower to clean the statue, and, so, has been painting it twice a year.

However, the civic body had claimed they had already sought permission to undertake maintenance of the statue, and that the PWD hadn't replied to its request. Earlier, the MNS had claimed that they would like to undertake the maintenance of the statue if the BMC is not unwilling to do it.

After mid-day's report, MNS corporator Dhuri wrote to Ambekar highlighting the condition of the statue and the inability of the PWD to maintain it. Dhuri had also mentioned PWD's communication that the BMC take over maintenance duties of the statue. The mayor then proceeded to write to the civic chief after receiving Dhuri's letter.

But Municipal Commissioner Sitaram Kunte said he has not yet received Ambekar's letter. He said, "I will see what is written in it when I receive it, and take action accordingly." Leader of the House Trushna Vishwasrao also said, "BMC must take the statue under its control."