Dibrugarh, July 13: Tinsukia District Commissioner Swapneel Paul on Saturday said a new Mahatma Gandhi statue will be installed at Gandhi Chowk in Doomdooma Town.

Paul ended the controversy which erupted after the dismantling of the Gandhi statue from Gandhi Chowk in Doomdooma Town.

“A Mahatma Gandhi statue was installed at Gandhi Chowk, Doomdooma around the year 1958. Since then, the statue has undergone a lot of wear and tear and damage. However, it appears that no scheme was undertaken for its restoration or replacement. Owing to this, a plan was undertaken to replace the existing 5 feet 8-inch Mahatma Gandhi statue with a new 7 feet tall statue under the scheme ‘Installation of a new Mahatma Gandhi statue at Gandhi Chowk, Doomdooma’ under the 15th Finance Commission Grant of Doomdooma Municipal Board,” said Tinsukia DC in a press statement.

He stated in the free area in the vicinity of the existing Mahatma Gandhi statue, a clock tower was also envisaged under the scheme ‘Installation of the Clock tower at Doomdooma town’ under the 15th Finance Commission Grant of Doomdooma Municipal Board for the sake of beautification of the town.

“On 15th February 2024, a public meeting involving community organizations of Doomdooma town was held at the office of the Doomdooma Municipal Board chaired by the Chairperson, Doomdooma Municipal Board where the details of the two schemes mentioned above were discussed with the public clearly and transparently and members present in the meeting were agreeable to the implementation of the two schemes mentioned above. On 7th March 2024, the foundation stones for both the schemes were laid at the site of execution where around 600 people of Doomdooma town were present and the plan of execution of both the schemes was discussed again with the public,” the statement stated.

It further added, “There was no public opposition or complaint even after this meeting. This meeting was also widely publicized in print, electronic and social media. On June 25, 2024, through a board resolution, it was decided that the two works, as agreed in the public discussion, shall be taken up for execution. Accordingly, the site of construction was cleared on 3rd July 2024 and the existing statue of Mahatma Gandhi was lifted on 5th July 2024 to prevent any damage due to the construction work. The safe custody of the statue has been ensured at the office of the Doomdooma Municipal Board, Doomdooma,”.

“During the process of lifting the statue for starting of the work, no public opposition or law and order situation was reported from the site. Once the execution of the schemes is completed, a new 7-foot tall statue of Mahatma Gandhi will be installed at the same site at Gandhi Chowk, Doomdooma,” Paul said.

Taking to X(formerly Twitter) Doomdooma MLA Rupesh Gowala said the press statement from the District Administration today should have answered all questions about the reconstruction of Gandhiji’s statue at Doomdooma. “The Congress should now avoid causing unnecessary controversy by raising baseless issues and misleading the people,” he said.

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