Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday urged the Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Affairs Shripad Yesso Naik to extend substantial financial assistance from his Ministry towards the upcoming state-of-the-art War Heroes’ Memorial-cum-Museum at Amritsar. Badal, in a letter to Naik, apprised him that the state has borne the brunt of three full-fledged wars in which many of its heroes have laid down their lives to safeguard the nation.
“In order to commemorate the supreme sacrifices made by these great sons of the soil, the state Government has decided to set up a state-of-the-art War Heroes’ Memorial-cum-Museum at Amritsar on seven acres of land on Amritsar-Attari road. This step is in consonance with our glorious tradition of honouring the brave hearts of the nation,” he said.
Chief Minister informed Naik that foundation stone of this Rs 100 crore prestigious project was laid on February 12, this year, in presence of highly decorated men and officers from Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Navy adding that the work on the project commenced on site during May 2014. “This project is first of its kind which aims at giving due recognition to the martyrs of the country, who laid down their life while serving the Armed forces,” he added.
Badal said that although the State Government has made adequate arrangement of funds for the completion of this project through the imposition of Cultural Cess but would not be in a position to bear the entire burden of the cost of setting up this unique memorial, which was likely to be completed by October 2015.