Maitreya Project
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The Maitreya Project is an international organisation, operating since 1990 [1], set up to construct a 152 metre (500 ft) statue of the Maitreya Buddha, in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India,[2][3][4] along with education and healthcare facilities for the local population. The design brief for the statue includes a specification for the statue to last for 1,000 years.[5]
The statue is remarkable in its size and scope; the covering over the internal steel truss structure is proposed to be of "approximately 6000 aluminium-bronze panels... cast from resin-bonded sand moulds."[6] Because of this massive infrastructure construction, the project has been broadcasted by the Discovery Channel.
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[edit] Project partners
The controlling corporate body is Maitreya Project International, Isle of Man[7]. One of the international companies working for the Project is Mott MacDonald Group Limited, providing their expertise in the tourist industry: "We have worked in all the major Indian states and have been involved in some of the most important tourism related developments in the country... we're able to deliver the complex de-signs [sic] for the Maitreya project"[8].
[edit] Finances
The projected budget in US dollars is: $195 million for the statue and throne building, $35 million for health and education and $20 million for development of the "750 acre" site.[9][10]
Financial summaries published in November 2007[1][7] reveal that the Project has historically run a deficit "financed by loans and creditors".
1990 - 2006 receipts 12,667,000 payments 19,033,,000 [sic] deficit (6,366,000)[11]
2006 receipts 1,126,981 payments 1,590,893 deficit (463,912)[12]
[edit] Universal Education Project School
The Project currently operates a school in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India.[13]
[edit] Criticisms
There has been criticism in the press about some aspects of the Project[14][15][16][17][18] [19], including the compulsory acquisition, under "India's Land Acquisition Act", by the State Government [1] of 660 acres (2.7 km²) of private land, homes and small farms; which are intended to be leased to the Project, for construction of the statue and related infrastructure, including "landscaped park housing a cathedral, monastery, convent, guesthouse, library and food halls..."[10]. Peter Kedge, Director and CEO of the Maitreya Project has posted a number of replies to these criticisms.[20][1]. As of today, thousands of Buddhist waterbowls have been offered by followers, students and gurus.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Kedge, Peter. "Maitreya Project Update, November 2007", Maitreya Project International website, Maitreya Project International I.O.M., 2007-11. Retrieved on 2007-11-21.
- ^ Bartholomew, Ian. "Massive Buddha taking shape in Taiwan: The Maitreya Project aims to erect a 152 m bronze Buddha in India that it hopes will stand for 1,000 years", Taipei Times, Taipei Times, 2001-07-12, pp. 11. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ "Brits to build biggest Buddha", BBC News: South Asia, British Broadcasting Corporation, 2000-03-21. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ Regeneration: Kushingar Masterplan. Aros Architects website. Aros Architects. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ Liyanage, Priyath. "India's 1,000 year Buddha underway", BBC News: South Asia, British Broadcasting Corporation, 2001-05-04. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ Leisure/Tourism: Maitreya Project: The Maitreya Project, India -. Aros Architects website. Aros Architects. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ a b Kedge, Peter (2008-11). Maitreya Project Structure and Financial Summaries. Maitreya Project website. Maitreya Project International, I.O.M.. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ Tourism and hospitality. Mott MacDonald website. Mott MacDonald Group Limited. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ Project Costs. Maitreya Project website. Maitreya Project International, I.O.M.. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ a b X80F_Maitreya revised.pdf (PDF). Aros Architects website. Aros Architects. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ Summary of Receipts & Payments, 1990-2006. Maitreya Project website. Maitreya Project International, I.O.M.. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
- ^ Summary of Receipts & Payments, 2006. Maitreya Project website. Maitreya Project International, I.O.M.. Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
- ^ Maitreya Universal Education Project. Maitreya Universal Education Project website. Maitreya Project International (2006). Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ^ Pepper, Daniel. "Indian farmers oppose giant Buddha statue", The Christian Science Monitor, The First Church of Christ, Scientist, 2007-09-10.
- ^ Falcone, Jessica. Bodhi Blues — A Year in India: Questioning The Maitreya Project: What would the Buddha do?. Wild River Review. Wild River Review. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ Falcone, Jessica. Bodhi Blues — A Year in India: What would the Buddha Do? The Debate Continues.... Wild River Review. Wild River Review. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ Qadir, Abdul. "Heavy police deployment made for Kalchakra", The Times of India, Times Internet Limited, 2003-01-09. Retrieved on 2008-03-04.
- ^ Pepper, Daniel. "Villagers fight plan for giant Buddha", The Washington Times, News World Communications, Inc., 2007-09-20. Retrieved on 2008-04-27. (en)
- ^ Kedge, Peter. Maitreya Project, Latest Update, September 2007. Maitreya Project International website: Maitreya Project Update. Maitreya Project International I.O.M.. Retrieved on 2007-11-10.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The school
- Videos posted on YouTube by Maitreya Project
- BBC Documentary
- Pepper, Daniel Giant Buddha's tough love will drive out poor The Scotsman, September 9, 2007 on The Buddhist Channel
- Aros Architects Kushingar Masterplan with location map and simulated aerial view
