statue of unity

Statue of Unity :

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who was called 'The Boss' by Time magazine in 1947 for his efforts to build the Republic of India by uniting 562 princely states, is known for introducing many reforms as the first Minister of Home Affairs after independence, besides playing a significant role in freedom struggle. The government of India has decided to honour the Iron Man of India with a statue.

                                              

Statue of Unity

Location - Narmada district, Gujarat, India

The statue will be called the 'Statue of Unity', and will be a symbol of the country's unity and integrity.

With a height of 182 meters, the Statue of Unity is not only the world's tallest statue but is also the statue that has been completed in the shortest time. Students who are aspiring for competitive examinations should know these facts about the Statue of Unity to score well in the general awareness.The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue will have a viewing gallery at 153 meters that will accommodate up to 200 visitors at a time, besides providing an expensive view of the dam and its environs.                                                                               

                                             

“The iron which was collected from the 'Loha' campaign was used in the foundation of the Statue.”

The construction time of the Statue of Unity is fixed at 42 months. It is completed in record time of 33 months, which is one more feather added to its cap. However, the Spring Temple Buddha statue in China was the longest till now that took 11 years.

Local tribals belonging to the Tadvi tribe opposed land acquisition for the development of tourism infrastructure around the statue. They have been offered cash and land compensation, and have been provided jobs. Activists like Medha Patkar and Gladson Dungdung have also opposed the project.They also claimed that Sadhu Bet was originally called Varata Bawa Tekri, named after a local deity, and so it was a site of religious importance.

An army of 2,500 workers, including several hundred Chinese labourers, are tirelessly working round the clock to put 5,000 squares of bronze on the figure of Patel so it can be ready for inauguration on October 31 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The project to commemorate Sardar Patel was announced by Modi in 2013 when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. The BJP had collected iron, soil and water from across the country to build the statue.

                     

The statue's construction took 75,000 cubic metres (2,600,000 cu ft) of concrete, 5,700 tonnes (5,600 long tons; 6,300 short tons) of steel structure, 18,500 tonnes (18,200 long tons; 20,400 short tons) of reinforced steel rods, and 22,500 tonnes (22,100 long tons; 24,800 short tons) of bronze sheets.

After completion, the statue will generate approximately 15,000 direct jobs for tribal people every year.The Statue of Unity Project will also include a unique museum and audio-visual department depicting the life and times of Sardar Vallabhbai Patel.The statue and surrounding area will be accessed by special boats to avoid vehicular traffic and pollution.

The viewing gallery will be accessible through two elevators located in the statue’s core, with a carrying capacity of 40 people each. While the initial plan was to allow visitors up to the structure’s head and to have a viewing gallery running through the eyes, this was dropped as unfeasible. Says an official, “The wind conditions do not favour a viewing gallery at that height. The chest is the maximum to which visitors can be safely allowed.” The gallery, with space to accommodate up to 200 people at a time, would provide a view of the Satpura and Vindhyachal mountain ranges, which also form the point where Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra meet. Visitors can also get a distant view of the 212-km-long Sardar Sarovar Reservoir, and the 12-km-long Garudeshwar Reservoir — the latter will help ensure there is always water around the statue, which is located downstream from the Narmada dam.