Minister of State for Water Supply and Water Resources of Gujarat Nanubhai Vanani said that contribution from the every section of the society would be ensured while constructing the proposed statue of unity in Gujarat.
The statue would be the tallest one in the world. While addressing the mediapersons in a Press conference held at Municipal Corporation of Dehradun in Dehradun on Thursday, Vanani said the statue of unity is an iconic 182 meters tall statue and is tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who is also better known as Iron Man of India.
“The statue is be built at the Sadhu-Bet Island, approximately 3.5kms south of Sardar Sarovar Dam at Kevadia in the Narmada district of Gujarat,” he said, adding that the inspiring memorial site, with a number of edu-tainment components, is between the Satpuda and Vindhyachal Ranges rising weir Narmada River, impounded by Garudeshwar, the Sardar Sarovar Dam and the town of Kevadia.
He claimed that the total project cost is estimated to be Rs 2,063 crore, and the collection of used farming tools and sand from each Gram Panchyat of Uttarakhand and other States of India will culminate in the month of February, next year. He told that memorial garden, bridge connecting Sadhu island with the mainland, memorial and visitors centre, parking and transport site at Kevadia for busses to statue, hotel and convention centre adjacent to Kevadia etc. among the few facilities that would be build around the statue.
Besides, the public three-level base of the statue exhibit floor, mezzanine and rood and will contain the memorial garden and a large continuous exhibit hall that will be developed as a visitor attraction focusing on the life and accomplishments of Sardar Patel and from the bridge, the visitors can enter the “Great Hall” directly or ascend stairs to either side of a green roof that is part of the memorial garden.
Vanani also informed that run for unity would be also held to commemorate the death anniversary of India’s first deputy prime minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on December, 15 across the country. Earlier, the delegation from the Gujarat also held meeting with NGOs for the project and a documentary film on Sardar Patel was also screened.
MP Dr Kiritbhai Solanki, MlAs Pravinbhai Mankadiya, Kantibhai Gamit, Balkrishanbhai Patel and Babubhai Khabad, Mayor Ahmedabad Meenakshiben Patel, Principal Secretary (Panchyat) Poonamchand Parmar, Joint Managing Director, Gujarat Police Housing, TS Bisht, SP (Kutch) Divya Mishra, Additional PCCF, Gujarat Medicinal Plant Board SC Pant, Harit Shukla, AS Bhagat, VK Joshi and many more were also present.