MUMBAI: The BJP-led state government has decided to spend Rs 3,600 crore to build a grand Shivaji memorial off the coast of Mumbai -the kind of money that could help achieve a lot of targets for the city and the state as a whole, a survey of budgetary estimates reveals.
The budget proposed for the memorial is roughly equal to the BMC’s annual health budget–Rs 3,694 cro re–which is used to run four medical colleges, five specialty hospitals and 16 peripheral hospitals, besides a strong network of over 170 civic dispensaries and primary hea lth centres in each ward.
The spending is also almost seven times the budget of Rs 500 crore for developing open spaces in the city .The state is yet to pay Rs 1,000 crore as compensation to cotton and soyabean farmers for crop loss due to drought last year.
Vinod Tawde, cultural affairs minister said, “When it comes to the cost for the Shivaji memorial, we are not looking at the budget. Money will not fall short for this project. All we want is to give a befitting tribute to the great leader.” The state’s debt at present is Rs 3.33 lakh crore.
It still needs to pay Rs 800 crore as crop insurance for losses during last year’s rabi season. The budget to run municipal schools in the city is Rs 2,400 crore.