Shivaji museum: Centre urged to extend funds

Work on the setting up of a museum here dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, for which Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackarey has offered to contribute exhibits, has been held up for over a year even as those behind the initiative have sought funds from the Centre for the project.
Senior Congress leader Motilal Vora, who is a member of the Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial National Committee, has in a letter to Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma sought an early and favourable response regarding the issue.
"As the matter has been pending consideration for more than a year now and the work of establishment of the museum is held up for want of funds, I would seek your personal indulgence in the matter of release of the grant," he said.

He told the minister that the Expert Committee in his ministry that looks after the Museum Grant Scheme had raised certain observations seeking additional information when the proposal was placed.
"This information was submitted to the Ministry on March 25, 2014," he said.
The National Committee is a non-profit registered society set up with the aim to establish memorials at different places in the country to commemorate Shivaji Maharaj and also establish the museum.
He told the Minister that Thackeray, through a letter to the National Committee, has gladly conveyed that he has "no objection" to the use of his collection of photographs in the proposed museum.