Alexander E. Davis

Indian tri-colored balloons fly around a statue head of Indian founding father Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

India unveils the world’s tallest statue, celebrating development at the cost of the environment

Development

The enormous “Statue of Unity” has been condemned for its lack of environmental oversight and its displacement of local Adivasi people, whose land was forcibly taken to build it. The Gujarat government says it will promote tourism and sustainable development.