Maitreya Project

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Computer-generated rendering of the proposed Maitreya Project Statue

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]

The project was initiated by the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, an organisation within the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Contents

[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".

[edit] Finances

Maitreya Project International, California entity, Gross Annual Revenue 2001–2008 in US$[8]

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]

[edit] Criticism

There has been criticism in the press about some aspects of the Project,[11][12][13][14][15][16] 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.[1][17][18]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Kedge, Peter (2007-11). "Maitreya Project Update, November 2007". Maitreya Project International website (Maitreya Project International I.O.M.). http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/index.html. Retrieved 2007-11-21. 
  2. ^ Bartholomew, Ian (2001-07-12). "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): pp. 11. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2001/07/12/93828. Retrieved 2007-12-08. 
  3. ^ "Brits to build biggest Buddha". BBC News: South Asia (British Broadcasting Corporation). 2000-03-21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/685179.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-08. 
  4. ^ "Regeneration: Kushingar Masterplan". Aros Architects website. Aros Architects. http://www.arosltd.com/projects.php?id=24. Retrieved 2007-12-08. 
  5. ^ Liyanage, Priyath (2001-05-04). "India's 1,000 year Buddha underway". BBC News: South Asia (British Broadcasting Corporation). http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1313508.stm. Retrieved 2007-12-08. 
  6. ^ "Leisure/Tourism: Maitreya Project: The Maitreya Project, India -". Aros Architects website. Aros Architects. http://www.arosltd.com/projects.php?id=3. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  7. ^ Kedge, Peter (2008-11). "Maitreya Project Structure and Financial Summaries". Maitreya Project website. Maitreya Project International, I.O.M.. http://www.satyagaveshi.org/. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  8. ^ "Registry Search Feature". Registry of Charitable Trusts (RCT). Office of the Attorney General, State of California. http://rct.doj.ca.gov/MyLicenseVerification/Search.aspx?facility=Y. Retrieved 2010-06-22. 
  9. ^ "Project Costs". Maitreya Project website. Maitreya Project International, I.O.M.. http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/project/costs.html. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  10. ^ a b "X80F_Maitreya revised.pdf" (PDF). Aros Architects website. Aros Architects. http://www.arosltd.com/searchresults.php. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  11. ^ Pepper, Daniel (2007-09-10). "Indian farmers oppose giant Buddha statue". The Christian Science Monitor (The First Church of Christ, Scientist). http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0910/p06s02-wosc.html. 
  12. ^ Qadir, Abdul (2003-01-09). "Heavy police deployment made for Kalchakra". The Times of India (Times Internet Limited). http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/33810155.cms. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  13. ^ "Contemplating the Navel". Dharma Life, issue 15 (Friends of the Western Buddhist Order). http://www.dharmalife.com/issue15/contemplating_navel.html. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  14. ^ Pepper, Daniel (2007-09-20). "Villagers fight plan for giant Buddha". The Washington Times (News World Communications, Inc.). http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070920/FOREIGN/109200032/1003/foreign. Retrieved 2008-04-27. 
  15. ^ Falcone, Jessica. "Bodhi Blues — A Year in India: Questioning The Maitreya Project: What would the Buddha do?". Wild River Review. Wild River Review. Archived from the original on 2008-02-11. http://web.archive.org/web/20080211164119/www.wildriverreview.com/airmail_india-maitreya.php. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  16. ^ Falcone, Jessica. "Bodhi Blues — A Year in India: What would the Buddha Do? The Debate Continues...". Wild River Review. Wild River Review. Archived from the original on 2008-02. http://web.archive.org/web/20080209213314/www.wildriverreview.com/airmail_india.php. Retrieved 2008-03-04. 
  17. ^ Kedge, Peter. "Maitreya Project, Latest Update, September 2007". Maitreya Project International website: Maitreya Project Update. Maitreya Project International I.O.M.. http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/2007-09.html. Retrieved 2007-11-10. 
  18. ^ Kedge, Peter (2009-09). "Maitreya Project Status & Fact Reference, September 2009". Maitreya Project International website (Maitreya Project International I.O.M.). http://www.maitreyaproject.org/en/updates/2009-07.html. Retrieved 2009-09-26. 

[edit] External links
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