Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today approved the budget of Rs 74.55 crore for 2012-13 for the construction of state-of-the-art Virasat-e-Khalsa phase-II project to showcase and preserve the glorious history of Sikhs up to the post Independence era for our future generations. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office said that Badal was presiding over the Meeting of Anandpur Sahib Foundation Trust here at Chief Minister’s residence this morning. He also directed the finance department to release Rs. 44.52 crore to mitigate the shortfall of the estimated budget for the project.Expressing the need to imbibe the Great Sikh ideology and rich cultural values of the soil in the minds of our young generation, Badal asked to chalk out a comprehensive plan to initiate cultural activities like organizing historical plays, recitation of Waar (Bards), Patriotic songs competitions, Laser shows etc. on every week end at various memorials sites of Baba Bandha Singh War Memorial at Chhapar Chiri in Mohali, Wadda Galugharsa Memorial at Kup Rahera in Sangrur distrct and Chhota Galughara Memorial in Khanuwan Chamb in Gurdaspur district. He also directed the Cultural affairs department to hold regular meetings of the Trust.Badal also reviewed the detailed design of the Phase II of Virasat-e-Khalsa, which was already approved by the Concept Committee comprising eminent Sikh scholars and historians.It was informed in the meeting that till date more than 18 lac people had visited Virasat-e-Khalsa Phase-I (up to Gallery no. 14) that had been completed at a cost of Rs. 250.52 crore and was dedicated to the nation on November 25, 2011. The work of Phase-II from Gallery 15 to 27 would be completed by March 2014. Depicting valor and unparalleled sacrifices of Sikhs, these Galleries would be named as Guru Granth-Guru Panth; Towards Sovereign Rule-I (1708-1716) i.e period of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur; Towards Sovereign Rule-II (1716-1765) i.e. Period of Sikh Chiefs; Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Era (1780-1848); Colonial Rule and the Sikhs (1849-1925) i.e. period of various Sikh movements; Participation in the Struggle for Independence (1907-1947); Partition of Punjab (1947-1948); A Riveting Journey; Partition in Retrospect (1947); New Roots (Post 1947); Celebrations; Sikhs- India and Abroad (Post 1947-Present) and Chardi Kala.All new techniques of Light effects, Holographic projections, Stereoscopy 3D, Video Wall, Cut outs, miniature sets, Animatronics and Augmented reality etc. would be employed for the construction of phase II project through utilizing the best services offered by the world class companies in these fields. Prominent amongst others who attended the meeting included Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Principal Secretary to CM SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Cultural Affairs SS Channy, Secretary Expenditure Dalip Kumar, Director Cultural affairs and CEO Anandpur Sahib Foundation Dr. KS Sra, Director Local Government Ashok Gupta and Director Information & Public Relations Department DS Mangat .