Cuttack: The district administration is facing criticism from several quarters for its alleged failure to find a suitable place on Kathajodi riverbank here for the installation of a 3D bronze sculpture on Mahatma Gandhi.
The sculpture would be installed on Kathajodi riverbank to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to the Silver City in 1921. Gandhiji had addressed a public meeting on Kathajodi riverbank March 23 that year. The district administration had earlier decided to install a 3D bronze sculpture on Gandhiji to observe the centenary of his public meeting on Kathajodi riverbank. It had made a budgetary provision of Rs 32 lakh for the project, sources said.
However, construction of the 20 ft wide and 10 ft high bronze sculpture has been stopped in the midway due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, the administration is facing a tough task to find a suitable place on Kathajodi riverbank to install the sculpture, sources added.
It is learnt that the administration had identified a place near Netaji Subhas bridge for installation of the bronze sculpture. However, the place on Kathajodi riverbank has also been selected for the construction of a public park.
“The place near Netaji Subhas bridge was earlier identified for the construction of a public park. Though the administration was quite aware of the park project, it had selected that particular place for installation of the bronze sculpture on Gandhiji,” said a source.
A few days ago, a 14-member team of the state Culture department had visited the place selected for the installation of the bronze sculpture. A few members of the team reportedly expressed their unhappiness over the construction of a public park on the place. Subsequently, the administration had proposed to identify a new place in the same locality for displaying the 3D artwork on Gandhiji, sources said.
“The sculpture was supposed to be installed at the identified place near Netaji Subhas bridge March 23 this year. At present, the construction work for the public park is going on at the place. But, the sculpture project is likely to be delayed further due to the prevailing uncertainty over the identification of a suitable place for it,” said a social activist.
However, Culture department deputy director Debanand Bariha ruled out any uncertainty over the sculpture project. “The 3D sculpture on Gandhiji would be installed inside the proposed public park near Netaji Setu. The issue has been resolved,” he said.