Author: Indo-Asian News Service
Publication: Yahoo News
Date: February 19, 2004
URL: http://in.news.yahoo.com/040219/43/2bko5.html
A great grandson of Henry Ford is
planning a sprawling religious complex at the headquarters of the global
Hare Krishna sect in West Bengal, but the project is still awaiting land
from the government.
Alfred B. Ford, in town to attend
a function of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON),
wants the Rs.6 billion project to come up at the sect's Mayapur centre
in Nadia district.
"But we are yet to get land from
the West Bengal government to translate our plan into a reality," regretted
Ford at a gathering of ISKCON members here.
The project that Ford describes
as a "spiritual Disneyland" will be a one-stop religious tourism centre
that one can use as a retreat to rejuvenate spirit and body -- the Hare
Krishna style.
Ford, whose family became followers
of ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupad many years ago, says people at his proposed
spiritual Disneyland can pursue their religious quest, research Indian
culture or simply relax in a spiritual environment.
The project, also being described
as a Vedic Planetarium, is to come up on 400 acres of land. It will have
hostels, hotels, cultural and religious centres and health centres.
But all the plans can come unstuck
if the government does not give it the required land.
ISKCON authorities have been pursuing
the government on the matter for two months but have so far failed to get
any assurance of grant of land.
The government was reportedly willing
to allow Ford ownership of only 10 percent of the 400 acres of land required
for the project. This was because of land ceiling laws of the state.
ISKCON members are unhappy with
the government's alleged non-cooperation despite the fact that Ford considered
himself close to West Bengal as his wife was a Bengali.
They also say such a project can
assist in improving the state's socio-economic scenario by creating new
job opportunities.
Exasperated with the government's
indifference, Ford has even threatened to take his dream project away to
Puri, Orissa, another prominent pilgrimage for ISKCON followers.
So far, for all his business acumen,
family name and good intentions, Ford hasn't even managed an appointment
with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.
