Punjab to celebrate its 50th anniversary

Chandigarh, May 24: Punjab Cabinet on Monday gave approval for organising a series of functions to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the formation of the state from now till November 1.

The decision was taken in a meeting of Council of Ministers chaired by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here.

A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said these state-level functions and other programmes would be organised during the period to apprise people about the relentless struggle for the creation of Punjabi Suba (Punjabi state).

The Cabinet also gave a nod to set up a high-level organising committee to chalk out the various programmes.

In recognition of the supreme sacrifice by Amrita Devi Bishnoi and 363 other residents of Bishnoi community, who laid down their lives while opposing cutting of trees by the ruler of Marwar (Jodhpur) in 1730, the Cabinet also approval for setting up a nature park-cum-memorial in their memory at village Sitogunno in Abohar near Fazilka district.

The requisite land would be provided by the village panchayat and the entire expenditure for the park-cum-memorial would be borne by Forest Department out of Greening Punjab Fund.

This initiative would also go a long way in sensitizing people towards preservation of forests and wildlife.

The Cabinet also gave approval for commemoration of 300th martyrdom anniversary of legendary Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur from May 29 to June 30 by organising various programmes and 'nagar kirtans'.

The commemoration will be overseen by an organizing committee under the chairmanship of chief minister with deputy chief minister as its Vice-Chairman. Eminent scholars and personalities will also be associated for this event.

The Cabinet also gave a go ahead to set up an executive committee under the organising committee with a Cabinet minister as its chairman and an officer in the rank of principal secretary as its member secretary.

Its other members would be decided by the chairman. The Cabinet will incur entire expenses of these celebrations amounting to Rs 25 crore. A 20-feet-tall statue of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur will be installed at Mehrauli in New Delhi by the state government at a cost of Rs 30 lakh.

The Cabinet also approved Punjab Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) prepared under the provision of the Energy Conservation Building Code-2007 as per composite climate zone applicable to Punjab.

It would be mandatory in government buildings/building complexes including buildings/building complexes of municipalities/local bodies, boards, corporations, government aided institutions and other autonomous bodies of the state government.

PTI