Badal constitutes concept committee for memorial construction

Punjab government today gave its nod for constituting a committee on the concept and design of a state-of-the-art war memorial-cum-museum on Amritsar-Attari Road to showcase the sacrifices made by Punjabis while serving in the armed forces.
The Chief Minister held discussions with decorated retired officers of the armed forces here to solicit their views on the concept and design of the memorial, which is to come up on around seven acres of land.
Presiding over the meeting, Badal said the memorial will be a befitting tribute to commemorate the remarkable contribution made by Punjabi soldiers and officers to defend the country's sovereignty during wars.

"The project will be an engineering marvel equipped with high-end technology to exhibit the enormous contribution of Punjabis in the armed forces," he said, according to an official release here.
The Chief Minister approved a joint concept committee of state government officials and representatives of the armed forces to draft a blueprint for completing the project in the coming two years.
The concept committee comprising Principal Secretary Defence Services Welfare Vishwajeet Khanna, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister K J S Cheema, Chairman, Punjab Public Service Commission, Lt General (retd) R S Sujlana among others, has been asked to submit its report within two months by Badal.

The Chief Minister also asked the committee to include eminent military historians to conceptualise the project.
The concept committee was free to visit war memorials like those in France, Israel and other parts of the world for having a better idea, he said.
Co-operation from the Chief of Indian Army, Navy and Air Force has been sought for providing records pertaining to the sacrifices of Punjabis, Badal said adding, the state government has already earmarked Rs 10 crore for initiating the project.