'Gorai Pagoda is illegal'

Gorai-Uttan locals allege the Global Vipasana centre is built on No Development Zone; accuse builders of violating coastal regulations

The Dharavi Beth Bacchao Samiti, a representative body of locals opposing the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) being planned by the Maharashtra government in the Gorai-Uttan belt, has alleged that Global Vipasana Pagoda built by the Global Vipasana Foundation in Gorai is illegal.

The Vipasana Pagoda will house the relics of the Buddha. The Essel World management has donated the land for the Pagoda that will be inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil on February 8.

RTI response

"In response to our Right to Information Act (RTI) application, the BMC revealed that the Pagoda has been built in a No Development Zone, and it has also violated Coastal Regulation Zone rules. The SEZ will displace a large number of poor people who have no means of livelihood. We met the president and brought the irregularities surrounding the Pagoda to her notice," said Lourdes D'Souza, secretary of the Dharavi Beth Bacchao Samiti.

However, Nayan Shah, trustee of the Global Vipasana Foundation, said the BMC's response to the RTI is based on the Development Plan prepared in 1987 and approved in 1991. The response, Shah said, ignores the specific development permitted by the Urban Development Department of the state government that permit activities conducive to the development of tourism.u00a0

"The development permission was granted by the BMC after considering all the applicable laws for development, including the CRZ Act, The Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act and the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act. Moreover, the government has declared that Gorai, Manori and Uttan are part of a Tourism Development Zone," Shah added.

Asia's largest meditation centre not part of Mumbai Darshan tour
The Pagoda at Gorai in Borivli that is expected to be a major tourist attraction won't feature in Mumbai Darshan tours.

Tour operators blame the maddening traffic in the suburbs and the distant location of the Pagoda for their decision. "We face a lot of trouble due to traffic in areas like Dadar and Bandra. There is no possibility of us going to the Pagoda," said Nikhil Shetty, owner of Vigneshwar travels.

Harsh Kotak, owner of Modern Travels, said, "We won't be able to add the Pagoda in our Mumbai Darshan tour because it is situated at the city's extreme end and will take a lot of time to travel. A trip to the Pagoda may be included as part of the Essel World tour."

Hemant Kapadia, partner of Nira cars, who rents vehicles for Mumbai Darshan, said, "We may have to cut down on the time we spend on other sites if we have to include the Pagoda visit. Then, the tourists won't be able to enjoy other places."

Rs 100 cr
The approximate cost of building the Pagoda in Gorai

10,000
The number of people it can accommodate

Largest Pagoda
Asia's largest Pagoda, which is also intended to be a meditation centre, will house the actual bone relics of Gautam Buddha.

The earthquake-resistant, 325 feet tall structure with a diameter of 280 feet, has taken almost 11 years to build. It will be twice the size of the largest dome in India the Gol Gumbaz of Bijapur.

The gold Pagoda will have a main Stupa and two smaller ones. Apart from this, there will be an exhibition gallery, a rainwater-harvesting tank, a parikrama area or a circumambulating path and approximately 10,000 visitors every day.

No iron or cement was used in its construction. Ashlar and basalt stones
from Jaipur have been ferried in, each weighing 1.5 to 2 tonnes.