The state government's decision to construct a 192-metre mid-sea memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has not found favour with environmentalists, activists and citizens. They want the administration to instead spend the whopping R3,600 crore — the estimated budget for the memorial — on preserving the Maratha king's forts across Maharashtra that are in a dilapidated condition. An online petition has also been started to stop the construction of the monument, which has gathered 15,000 signatures.

The construction of the mega memorial will begin after a 'jalpoojan' ceremony tomorrow at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, the project has been mired in controversy, especially after 2009, when the Congress-led Democratic Front government announced their plans of constructing the statue and building a memorial around it in the middle of the Arabian Sea. This hasn't deterred the previous government, or the current one.

"Rather than wasting money, the Chief Minister should visit the forts of Shivaji Maharaj which are in dilapidated condition and spend the money for the memorial on restoring the forts. I feel bad looking at the dilapidated condition of the forts like Raigad, Sinhagad, Shivneri and others because the government is doing nothing to restore them," said Ratnakar Sawant, an avid trekker. The condition of other important forts like Purandhar, Torna and Rajgad is no different.

Activists have also alleged that the project will have a negative impact on marine life and biodiversity along with the livelihood of fishermen, but the state government is still keen on going through with it. Damodar Tandel, a leader of the fishermen's community along with activist Pradip Patade has also approached the National Green Tribunal opposing the Shivaji statue.