After a four-year delay, the Punjab state government is finally set to commence work on the historic Saragarhi War Memorial, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann laying the foundation stone during a state-level event on Tuesday.
No concrete steps were taken to utilize the funds
The delay in the development of the memorial, which received a grant of Rs 1 crore in 2018, was attributed to procedural complications and a lack of attention. The grant was initially released following an announcement by then-Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh during his visit to the memorial in 2018. However, no concrete steps were taken to utilize the funds.
Additionally, the tourist facilitation center, constructed under the centrally funded ‘Swadesh Darshan’ scheme, remains unused despite its completion last year. Other planned initiatives, such as a light and sound show, the Institute of Studies for Entry into Armed Forces, and a center for rehabilitating drug addicts, have also failed to materialize. The forest land designated for the development of Saragarhi Lake continues to be overrun with wild vegetation.
Numerous visiting dignitaries have pledged to transform the memorial into an iconic monument, but progress has been elusive. Meetings of the Saragarhi Memorial Trust, established to oversee the memorial’s development, have not occurred regularly.
According to Rajesh Dhiman, Deputy Commissioner (DC), a plan for the war memorial has been finalized, and the foundation stone will be laid on September 12. The initial delay was due to cost overruns, with the project’s price increasing to Rs 1.25 crore. However, the process has now been expedited, and the project is expected to be completed within six months. It will include the installation of a statue of Havildar Ishar Singh and a mural depicting the historic Saragarhi fort.
While a 10-foot-tall bronze statue of Havildar Ishar Singh was erected in Wolverhampton, UK, two years ago, no action was taken at the actual memorial site in India. Gurbhej Tibbi, a member of the Saragarhi Foundation, commended the district administration for finally moving forward with the development of the memorial.
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