Local bodies to bear cost of statues, says Kriplani

JAIPUR: With an eye on the 2018 assembly elections, the Vasundhra Raje government has decided to erect statues of prominent personalities, leaders and philanthropists from different communities and naming roads after them.Sources said the government is likely to erect 100 statues across the state. They added that the urban development and housing (UDH) minister, Srichand Kriplani , has directed all 191 urban local bodies - municipal corporations and councils - in the state to seek proposals from different communities identifying their prominent leaders whose statues can be erected. The proposals will be tabled in the board meeting of local bodies. Kriplani said, "To inspire people, we have proposed to erect statues and name roads after prominent personalities and philanthropists for their contributions."Kriplani further said, “This will motivate others too. The proposal will be tabled for approval in the local bodies board meeting scheduled in Jaipur on December 28. The work to erect statues will start after names are approved in the meeting.”Acting on the direction, many elected representatives and officials have initiated work on ground to implement the proposal. Bharatpur Municipal Corporation (BMC) mayor Shiv Singh said, “We have already proposed to name the roads after Maharaja Brijendra Singh, member of erstwhile royal family, and senior BJP leader Dr Digamber Singh , who passed away this year. List of more names will be given in the board meeting.”Sources said the BJP’s move may woo voters in abundance as family members of many prominent personalities have strong influence over their communities.The cost of erecting these statutes is likely to be borne by the urban local bodies. “If the proposal is accepted, attempts will be made to erect these statutes after seeking public contributions. In case no one comes forward, the local bodies would chalk out a plan to fund,” Kriplani said.Congress, however, said the proposal was in fact an election agenda. “Leaders of the ruling party were absent from the field for past four years now they are using such tools to woo voters. But I doubt it will work. Even the tender process will take a lot of time,” Congress spokesperson Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said.