The work on Statue of Unity, a 182 metre statue of Vallabhbhai Patel for Gujarat has hit a roadblock after Gujarat activists moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for a stay on its construction saying that the project does not have environment clearance.

The work on the statue had begun in November 2013 on an island located in Narmada river. But the activists have demanded that the ongoing work on the project should be stopped immediately. They have called the construction activities illegal and siad that the authorities failed to respond to communications seeking documents on green clearance for the project.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a notice to Gujarat government, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Rashtriya Ekta Trust, Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited and several others.The next hearing of the matter is scheduled on May 8.

The statue was a pet project of the then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. He said but for Patel who integrated various small regions into one big country, India would have disintegrated after Independence.