Gujarat delegaton elicits people's support for Sardar Patel's tallest statue

SHIMLA: A delegation from Gujarat is now visiting Himachal Pradesh to elicit support of the people for the state's dream project -- construction of Sardar Patel's statue which will be the tallest in the world.

The 11-member delegation is led by Higher Education minister Vasuben Trivedi.

The 182-mt tall statue of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, who had played an invaluable role in integrating princely states with the Union of India, will be constructed on the banks of river Narmada.

The "Statue of Unity" is the dream project of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Trivedi said.

Contributions from every individual, both in the form of iron and soil, will be sought for the project, she said.

"Farmers will donate their agricultural tools for construction of the statue," Trivedi said.

The iron collection campaign will commence on December 15, the death anniversary of Sardar Patel, she said.

"As part of this campaign, the old farming tools will be collected from all villages across India and will be used to construct the statue." the minister said.

The foundation stone for the statue was laid by Modi on Occtober 31 this year, the birth anniversay of Patel.