Punjab Cultural Affairs Minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur has instructed all concerned officials of the department to speedy up the work of conservation and beautification of Museums in the state. Presiding over a meeting to review the progress report of the department Minister also reviewed the work to be done under 13th financial commission and asked officials to fix a meting with the project consultants on May 26.Briefing about the meeting Minister said that progress work of Sheesh Mehal & Arms Gallery, Patiala, District Museum Sangrur, Mahraja Ranjit Singh Summer Palace, Ram Bag, Amritsar, Anglo Sikh War Memorial Ferozshah & Lala Lajpat Rai Museum, Jagron, Arch logical Museum Sanghol, Khatkar Kalan Museum and progress report of Digitization and Micro Filming work of Archaeological Records was reviewed in the meeting.Disclosing about the work to be done at Sheesh Mehal & Arms Gallery Patiala Museum Mr. Phillaur said that centre has approved Rs 3 Crore under 13th financial commission and DPR is being prepared from consultants Abha Nariane Mumbai. He added that after the completion of outer work the interior upgradation work would be done with the cost of Rs 2.5 Crore. “Work of two Kothi’s & Temple adjoining district museum Sangrur is in progress”, said Phillaur.
Phillaur said that Punjab Government sent a proposal of Rs 15 crore for approval to the central government but they have sent the proposal back asking for some changes and this proposal would be soon again sent to the centre. Cultural Minister said that work of Anglo Sikh War Memorial, Ferozshah and Lala Lajpat Rai Museum, jagraon would be done with grant approved in the 13th financial commission. He further said that 90 percent upgradation work of Archaeological Museum Sanghol is completed and remaining work would be completed soon. “First Phase work of Khatkar Kalan Museum is completed and Rs 12.5 Crore has been released for this work and for second phase work of this Museum consultant has sent 10.48 Crore tender document and action is being taken to approve this”, said Phillaur.Minister further said that department has also under taken the work digitization and Micro filming of Archaeological records under central sponsored scheme in the ratio of 75:25 share. He said that till date 10 lakh pages have been digitized and other work is under progress.Other prominent present in the meeting included Mr. Navjotpal Singh Randhawa Director, Cultural Affairs Department, Punjab, Mr Gurkirat Singh Assistant Controller and Mrs Malwinder Kaur Curator Museums.