Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave approval to the proposals works nearly Rs.10.5 crore to carry out the remaining works of the ongoing memorial Projects in the state.A decision to this effect was taken by Badal while presiding over a high-level review meeting of the Cultural Affairs Department here at Punjab Bhawan this morning. Reviewing the progress of the various ongoing as well as other announced memorial projects which are under initial stage, Mr. Badal directed all the concerned departments to strive hard for the timely completion of these projects initiated by SAD-BJP government to perpetuate the rich legacy of the state. He categorically said that the paucity of funds would not be allowed to hamper the progress of these projects. The elevator project of Rs. 1.65 crore for the Baba Banda Singh Bahadur memorial at Chapparchiri besides Immersive Experience, Auditoriums, Short duration documentary films and other remaining civil works related to the Wada Ghalughara (Kuprahiran), Chotta Ghalughara (Kahnuwan), Bassian Kothi (Raikot) and Bhai Randhir Singh (Narangwal) memorials had been approved after a detailed discussion with the senior officers of the departments and local district administrations. Mr. Badal also directed the department to plan light and sound programmes at all memorial to attract public.
It was informed in the meeting that SGPC had also approved to transfer its land measuring 5 acres at Fatehgarh Sahib in the name of the Department of cultural Affairs for setting up of Baba Moti Ram Mehra Memorial. The concept paper for this memorial has also been finalized. Regarding Bhai Jaita ji Memorial at Sri Anandpur Sahib and Guru Birjanand Memorial at Kartarpur tender document for the empanelment of the architects for the designing of the memorial was being issued, whereas for setting up of Guru Ravi Dass Memorial at Khuralgarh in Hoshiarpur district land was being arranged. It was also informed in the meeting that the process for the setting up of Swami Vivekanand Memorial at Kapurthala, Bhai Mardana ji Memorial at Ferozpur and Shaheed Udham Singh Mennorial at Sunam has also been started. The cultural affairs department has also initiated the move to include Theme Park at Sri Chamkaur Sahib in the Sikh Religious Circuit with GoI. On the occasion, Mr. Badal also release the Punjabi translated version of seven books regarding the teachings of Swami Vivekanand ji. Prominent amongst those were present in the meeting included Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, State BJP President Mr. Kamal Sharma, Senior SAD leader Prof. Prem Singh Chandumajra, Secretary SGPC Mr. Dalmegh Singh, Former Minister Mr. Tikshan Sood, Mr. Sohan Singh Thandal, Sant Balbir Singh Ghunas & Mr. Som Parkash (all CPSs) Financial Commissioner Revenue Mr. NS Kang, Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs Mr. SS Channi, Principal Secretary Local Government Mr. Ashok Kumar Gupta, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, MD PIDB Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, Vice-Chancellor Punjabi University, Patiala Dr. Jaspal Singh, Deputy Commissioners of Kapurthala, Sangrur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Amritsar and other senior officers of the State Government , besides the representatives of some social organizations.