In order to expedite the work of upcoming ‘Punjab State War Heroes and Museum’ to dedicate this ‘first of its kind’ project to the nation in this year, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asked the Executive Committee of this project to regularly hold its meeting at Amritsar to monitor day-to-day progress of this project. Presiding over the Governing Body meet of ‘Punjab State War Heroes and Museum’ here at Bachat Bhawan this morning, the Chief Minister took stock of ongoing work on this project and asked the officers to ensure that this project could be dedicated to the nation at the earliest. He said that there was no dearth of funds for this project aimed at showcasing the fortitude, valor and supreme sacrifices of the Armed forces in defending our national borders. Mr. Badal said that the purpose behind holding the meeting of Executive committee regularly at Amritsar was to ensure better coordination and supervision to complete this project.
The Chief Minister also laid thrust of accurate presentation of facts pertaining to various battles/ wars to be showcased in the under construction galleries. He said that services of renowned historians must be taken to assure that storyline to be exhibited in galleries was authentic and historically correct. Mr. Badal also suggested that separate committees of historians and experts should be constituted for the under construction galleries. The Chief Minister was apprised in the meeting that a 45 meter iconic sword was being installed at memorial at a cost of nearly Rs 5.50 crore, which would add zing to the project. It was informed that this all weather and non corrosive sword was being built with best quality steel and was totally seismic, lighting and wind protected.
Meanwhile, the Governing Council today took a slew of important decisions like setting up Punjab State War Heroes and Museum foundation to manage the affairs of this project in a far better manner. The Council also approved creation of a Corpus Fund of Rs 10 crore for making the project self sufficient. The state government would provide financial assistance for creating this fund, which would help in generation of income to cover salaries of staff and routine expenditure of project.
The Council also gave nod for appointing about 60 persons as staff, including 36 security persons to be hired from PESCO, for the project. In the same manner it was decided that the work of maintaining the complete civil work including sword must be outsourced to a single agency. Likewise, it was approved that landscaping of this project would be outsourced to another agency. It was also decided that nine committees of historians and experts would be constituted for assuring correct presentation of history in the under construction galleries. Prominent amongst other present in the meeting included Chief Parliamentary Secretary Prof. Virsa Singh Valtoha, Chief Secretary Mr. Sarvesh Kaushal, Advisor to Chief Minister Major General (Retd.) BS Dhaliwal, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Vice Chancellor Guru Nanak Dev University Dr. AS Brar, Director Sainik Welfare Brigadier JS Arora, Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ravi Bhagat, Commissioner of Police Mr. Jatinder Singh Aulakh, Chief Architect Punjab Ms. Swapna, Director Cultural Affairs Mr. NS Randhawa, Deputy Director Sainik Welfare Colonel GJS Gill, General Officer Commanding 15 Division Major General S Thapa, Brigadier Pawan Pal Singh, Project Consultant Major General (Retd.) Raj Mehta, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Kuldeep Singh, Lieutenant General (Retd.) HRS Mann and Assistant Commissioner Ms. Priya.