India to unveil world's tallest statue, critiques question Sh431 billion price tag

 The massive statue is a tribute to Indian independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

The world's tallest statue, which will stand twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty has sparked a huge row because of its staggering cost.

An astonishing £330 million (Sh431 billion) has been spent on the 600ft tribute to Indian independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in his home state of Gujarat.

The statue, which required an estimated 1,850 metric tons of bronze, is set to be officially unveiled on Wednesday.

Half the cost was coughed up by the state government, while the federal government and private donors provided the rest of the funding.

Patel was the newly-independent India's first interior minister, and served as deputy Prime Minister under Jawaharlal Nehru.

The extravagant statue, named The Statue of Unity, has been heavily criticised, with local farmers saying they are struggling to make ends meet.

Vijendra Tadvi, 39, told the BBC: "Instead of spending money on a giant statue, the government should have used it for farmers in the district."

He said that those making a living off the land lack even the most basic irrigation.

 The statue has been named The Statue of Unity

The project was commissioned by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2010, when he was the state's chief minister.

Mohan Gurumurthy of the Centre for Policy Alternatives said: "If he had been alive, Patel would never approve millions to be spent on his statue."

But Modi, who will unveil the statue, said: "In the world, people talk about America's Statue of Liberty. We want to make a statue of Sardar Patel at twice the size of the statue of Liberty."

The Statue of Liberty is 305ft tall.

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