Bal Thackeray's green memorial takes root

Officials start to level the 20x40-feet patch of land that will be made into a landscaped garden in honour of late Sena patriarch; the project will take one-and-a-half months to complete

After conducting a low-key bhoomi pujan ceremony on February 6, labourers from the BMC’s Garden Department began work in earnest on Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s memorial the very next day, two months after his demise.

Work began on the small plot at Shivaji Park near Shivaji’s statue on the grounds. The memorial will span across 20x40-feet patch of land and a clay statue of around 5x8 feet will be build by the civic body. The land will be made into a landscaped garden with green shrubs and other plants. The plan passed by the municipal commissioner clearly states that no civil structure will be built on the ground.

This memorial was completely ideated and will be executed by the civic body without the help of any architect, as in the case of other memorials. Officials said that the estimated cost of the project would be Rs 6 lakh. Authorities said that the memorial would take around a month-and-a-half to complete.

Deputy Superintendent Gardens (City), said, “There was no need to give any work order as the work of development was going to be done by us (the garden department). There will be greenery all round and small shrubs and plants will be present in the garden. The approximate cost will be approximately Rs 6 lakh.”

When MiD DAY spoke to Mayor Sunil Prabhu, asking why it would take so long for the memorial to be put up, he said, “The work would take a month-and-a-half as work needs to be done properly. The memorial is our Saheb’s memorial and so, we don’t mind if another month or so is taken by the civic body to complete it.”

Courtesy: Mid-day