Work on Jang-e-Azaadi memorial to commence in 6 months:Badal
Chandigarh, Oct 2 (UNI)
In a bid to pay glorious tributes to the great martyrs and sons of the soil for their immense contribution in the Indian freedom struggle and to perpetuate their rich legacy, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said that the construction work on the prestigious 'Jang-e-Azaadi' memorial would commence within next six months.
Presiding over the maiden meeting of Jang-e-Azaadi foundation here today at Punjab Bhawan, the Chief Minister said that the work on this exemplary memorial to be erected over 25 acres of land at Kartarpur in Jalandhar district at the cost of Rs 100 crore would be completed in two years after its commencement.
Divulging the construction plan of the historic memorial, Mr Badal apprised the members of the foundation that the 25 acres of land earmarked for this purpose had already been transferred to the Cultural Affairs department by the Horticulture department and soon it would be allotted to the foundation for initiating the work on priority. Realizing the historic significance of this mega project, the state government was seriously contemplating to acquire some additional land for it.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the site of the project had been carefully chosen by the state government as it lies on the National Highway-1, which would facilitate the people from the country and abroad to pay their homage to the great martyrs here.
Highlighting the rationale behind the construction of this world class memorial, the Chief Minister said that Punjabis have spearheaded the national freedom movement from this land of martyrs by making supreme sacrifices at the altar of their motherland but the irony of the fate was that not only the majority of the countrymen but even the Punjabis were ignorant of our rich past.
He said it was the bounden duty of the state government to perpetuate the rich legacy amongst the youngsters by constructing this memorial to imbibe the spirit of nationalism and patriotism amongst them, which was gradually fading away with the passage of time. He said that as soon as the foundation would clear the Detailed Project Report regarding the project submitted by the concept committee, the other necessary modalities for the memorial would be completed thereby paving way for the starting this ambitious project.