On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued an apology to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the residents of Maharashtra following the unfortunate collapse of the 35-foot statue of the Maratha warrior in Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra. The incident, occurring merely eight months post its unveiling, has stirred a political uproar leading up to the state Assembly elections, with the Opposition alleging corruption in the statue’s construction contract. PM Modi emphasized that Shivaji Maharaj is not just a monarch but a revered deity, from whom we derive inspiration and worship. While in Palghar to initiate the 76,000 crore Vadhvan Port project, Modi expressed his deep respect for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by recalling his visit to Raigad Fort in 2013, a pivotal moment when he was declared the PM candidate by his party.
During his address to the audience, Modi conveyed his apologies to Chhatrapati Shivaji and all those affected by the statue’s collapse at Rajkot Fort. He acknowledged, “The moment I arrived here, my first act was to apologize to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for the unfortunate incident involving his statue. To me and my colleagues, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is not just a king but a figure of utmost reverence and worship. We offer our apologies to all those who hold Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in high regard as their revered deity.”
Furthermore, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remotely inaugurated the Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour in Nellore district from Palghar, Maharashtra, on Friday. In a significant development for Andhra Pradesh, he also laid the foundation stone for the 387 crore Pudimadaka fishing harbour initiative. This milestone project is set to bolster the coastal fishing sector and provide substantial support to the local fishing community in Andhra Pradesh. As part of a broader initiative by the central government, a total of 217 projects have been simultaneously launched across 13 states, with an allotted fund of 1,200 crore.
Constructed at a cost of 200.0 crore across a 76.89 acre area in Bogole mandal, the Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour is a collaborative effort between the central and state governments. The project’s funding is sourced from various channels, including 59.14 crore from the Central Fisheries Department’s Blue Revolution scheme, an equal amount from the Shipping ministry’s Sagarmala scheme, and 150.51 crore from AP’s state budget. Nellore district, with a 110km coastline, is home to 92 fishing villages accommodating a fishing community of 69,582 individuals, including 12,504 marine fishermen. The district’s fishing sector ranks second in the primary sector with a turnover of 6,864 crore. The newly constructed harbour has the capacity to house 1,250 boats, comprising 1,000 mechanized vessels and 250 large wooden boats, with an expected annual fish harvesting capacity of 41,250 tonnes.
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