The Lokayukta of Madhya Pradesh, Justice NK Gupta, has initiated an investigation into the toppling of six statues installed as part of the Mahakal Lok corridor project at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. The statues of the saptrishi (seven sages) fell off their pedestals due to strong winds, while another 11 developed cracks. The incident has sparked a political controversy, with the Congress alleging corruption and sub-standard work, while the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticized the design and material chosen during the Congress’s tenure.
The Lokayukta has ordered a team to visit the Mahakal Lok corridor and examine various aspects of the case, including the decision to use Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) for the statues. The investigation will focus on the responsibility of the company involved, the use of substandard material, and the possibility of corruption in approving FRP statues. Officials associated with the project will also be questioned.
The Mahakaleshwar Temple Corridor Development Project’s first phase, known as Mahakal Lok, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in October the previous year. The Congress has sent a team to assess the situation and has demanded a high court judge investigate the alleged corruption and sub-standard work. Congress leaders have highlighted issues such as the absence of an internal steel structure in the FRP statues, the use of low-quality Chinese netting, and the lack of a foundation for the statues’ pedestals.
The district collector of Ujjain has stated that new statues will be installed within two months, and a quality check will be conducted. The firm responsible for the project, MP Babariya, based in Gujarat, could not be reached for comment.
The investigation aims to uncover the causes behind the toppling of the statues and address concerns regarding the quality of workmanship and materials used in the Mahakal Lok corridor project.
