4/29/2003 10:41:00 AM

Fatehgarh Sahib
The district is gearing up to observe the 300th year of the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, who were bricked alive by the Mughals for not embracing Islam in December, 1704. While presiding over a meeting of the Fatehgarh Sahib Development Board, Capt Amarinder Singh, Chief Minister, constituted a state-level committee for making arrangements to commemorate the supreme sacrifice.

Mr B.I.S. Chahal, Adviser to the Chief Minister, said the state-level committee headed by the Chief Minister would look after all arrangements and development projects to be initiated to pay homage to the Sahibjadas. He said four memorial gates would be constructed at various entry points to the city. These gates would be named after Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Baba Moti Ram Mehra, Diwan Todar Mal and Nawab Sher Mohamad Khan of Malerkotla. The gates would be constructed by PUDA, Mandi Board, Markfed and Ware Housing Corporation. He said all roads would be widened and beautified. Sodium vapour lamps would be installed along these roads. He said all heritage buildings such as Todar Mal Haveli, Lal Masjid, Roza Sharif, Aam Khash Bagh etc. would be preserved and the Department of Archaeology and Cultural Affairs had been directed to start the work. The surrounding of Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib and Jyoti Swarup Sahib would be beautified by planting ornamental trees and flower plants.

Mr Vikas Paratap, Deputy Commissioner and member secretary of the board, said the Chief Minister had issued clear instructions to the secretaries of the departments concerned to immediately take up this assignments. He said the CM was taking keen interest in the development of the district. He said the CM had also sanctioned various development projects like construction of an urban estate, Ambedkar Bhavan, Sahikarta Bhavan, Circuit House, Sainik Rest House, record rooms and government houses for employees. He had also directed to introduce science and information technology streams at graduation level, besides starting postgraduation courses in English and Punjabi at Government Girls College, Mandi Gobindgarh. He said all projects would be completed in time as desired by the Chief Minister