Early Times Report
JAMMU, Oct 24: Despite a plan submitted by tourism department to make Balidan Stambh, an attraction in the local tourist circuit, it has been left abandoned and disowned unceremoniously by the state government.
Balidan Stambh, which was constructed and handed over to the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah by then Army Chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor on November 24, 2009 at a function in Jammu, is being neglected by the authorities and neither the state government nor Army is maintaining the memorial.
According to a former director Tourism, after receiving it from the Indian Army, the Civil Secretariat had sent a letter to the tourism department of Jammu to make a proposal for upkeep and maintenance of the memorial in early 2010. In response to the letter the Tourism department had submitted a plan to the secretariat to make it an attraction for visiting tourists and devotees of the Bahut fort Circuit.
But nothing has been done by the secretariat in this regard even after more than three years and the War memorial has been left abandoned by the state administration.
As per the plan given by the tourism department, it proposed to start a light and sound show in the evening, a photo gallery of the war heroes has to be established, a weapon museum was also in the plan and the department had also proposed a local folk and dance shows with local art and craft counters. The department had proposed that there should be a ticket to visit this memorial so that some funds could also be generated to maintain it. The department also proposed a tuck shop also for the visitors in the complex.
Costing Rs 13 crore the Balidan Stambh took five years to come-up. The memorial has 54 pillars bearing the names of over 5,000 martyrs, etched on stone in golden colour, who sacrificed their lives since 1947 in wars, with a tower (Stambh) about a 60 meter tall citadel, prodding the skyline like a bayoneted rifle. Its towering height may serve as an epitome of unsurpassable resolve, valour, dedication and selfless service by the martyred army men to their country.
Musical fountains, pathways and landscaped gardens which add to the ambience and beauty of the memorial speak of apathy of the administration.
The golden colour of platter bearing names of the War Martyrs has lost its shine, many of the floor and wall tiles are broken, the fountains are not working and the area is untended and untidy
At the base of the tower eternal flame has been set up, but as it requires 6 LPG cylinders per day, no one has funds for it.
Director Tourism, Jammu said, "It has not been handed over to the department by the state, so we cannot maintain, we have got a letter from the divisional commissioner, but no proposal has been made to make it ready for tourists." |
