Review petition in Gujarat HC against 'Statue of Unity'

A review petition was filed in Gujarat High Court today against the 'Statue of Unity', a pet project of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, seeking reversal of an earlier order whereby a PIL on the issue was dismissed.
On January 13, the division bench of Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice J B Pardiwala had dismissed a public interest litigation challenging the construction of the gigantic statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The petitioner J D Goswami today filed a review petition before the same bench, arguing that it had not considered his primary contention about misuse of public funds.
The HC adjourned the hearing for Februay 20.

In the earlier order, the High Court had said the matter fell in the realm of policy-making, and people could oppose it through the ballot box.
Goswami had quoted media reports that the project would cost Rs 2,400 crore. The statue would be coming up on Sadhu Bet on the banks of Narmada river.
Locals were opposed to the project, and though the government conceded several of their demands, activists claim that residents of 70 villages are still opposed to it.