The Himachal Cabinet on Monday decided to construct a memorial at Manali in memory of late Atal Bihari Vajpayee and also decided that his statue will be erected at the Ridge or Mall in Shimla.
The Cabinet also decided to send a proposal to the Union Government to rename Kol Dam project in the name of the former Prime Minister.
The Cabinet in its meeting held here expressed grief over the sad demise of former Prime Minister Vajpayee, who passed away on August 16 and lauded his contributions for the Nation in general and for the State in particular.
The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur described Vajpayee a multi-faceted personality and said that apart from being the Statesman, he was an outstanding orator, a poet and a passionate journalist. The Cabinet appreciated his special benevolence for the State of Himachal Pradesh and its people who showered his love and affection by giving approval and sanction to various mega projects for the State which people of the State have not dreamt of.
The Cabinet in its resolution said that Vajpayee always considered Himachal Pradesh as his second home and has a house at Prini in Kullu district. He loved to visit the State whenever he got time from his busy schedule.
The Cabinet, in its resolution while remembering the benevolence and special attachment of Vajpayee with the people of Himachal Pradesh, said that the idea to construct Rohtang tunnel connecting landlocked hinterland lahaul valley with rest of the world was conceived in 1998.
The resolution said that it was National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by Vajpayee that the special package for industrial development was announced for Himachal Pradesh in 2003 as result of which industrial investment of thousands of crores of rupees and employment and self-employment opportunities to lakhs of youth of the State was ensured.
The Cabinet observed two minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.