Vadodara--The iron collected over two years for the Statue of Unity project-a 182-metre tall statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel to be built in Vadodara facing the Narmada Dam-is likely to be part of an art work to be displayed there, and unlikely to be used in the main structure of the statue, say officials associated with the project. This has come in sharp contrast to the original plan of the project.
In fact, the official website says: “The iron collected through the ‘Loha’ campaign will be melted, converted into rebar, and used in the foundation of the Statue of Unity, making farmers across India an integral part of building the World’s Tallest Statue.”
KV Sanghavi, Chief Engineer, Project Director & Director (Canals) for Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Ltd (SSNNL), said that though the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust (SVPRET) is yet to take a decision on how the metal could be used, the sentimental value attached to the drive could result in a separate display art work.
“We are not going to use the iron for the main structure as we are not very sure about its quality. If we use it, a lot of technical process will have to be done. It is more a sentiment-related issue and we will be using it in the non-structural part or for display. We could make an art work or a show piece out of it that can be displayed in the open. What it would be or how it would look, has not been finalised,” Sanghavi told The Indian Express.
INDIAN EXPRESS
