Even as Uttar Pradesh continues to batter with a financial crisis, the Yogi Adityanath Government has allotted Rs 447.46 crores for the acquisition of 61 hectares of land in Ayodhya to build the world’s tallest statue of Lord Ram. This amount is in addition to Rs 200 crores sanctioned earlier this year for carrying out technical studies for building the 251 metres high statue.
The decision comes after the state government removed as many as 25,000 home guards from their duties citing budget constraints. More than 90,000 Home Guards also stand to lose regular employment, as they are said to have added to UP Police’s budgetary constraints.
In September, thousands of ambulance drivers in Lucknow protested against the government demanding reimbursement of their three months’ pending salaries. The state government had announced in 2017 that it would construct a Ram statue in Ayodhya as part of the “Navya Ayodhya” scheme of the UP Tourism Department to develop the area into a tourist centre.
In a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath decided for more surveys and research to be conducted for the creation of 28 development regions in Uttar Pradesh. His government has already approved two development regions in Sonbhadra.
“A proposal for the beautification of Ayodhya and boosting tourism has been approved by the UP Cabinet. A digital museum based on Lord Ram, a food plaza, landscaping and a statue of Lord Ram will come up in the town. The Cabinet approved Rs 447.46 crore to acquire 61.3807-hectare land in Meerpur village of Sadar tehsil of Ayodhya,” said cabinet minister Shrikant Sharma.
“This project is being modelled on the Sardar Patel statue project in Gujarat,” Sharma said.
He said that out of the Rs 200 crore approved earlier this year for carrying out a detailed project report, wind tunnel and design studies for the statue, Rs 100 crore has been released. Detailed studies of the soil strength and wind-speed at the site have to be conducted to ensure that the statue can be built here.
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