Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Ashok Chakra’s tallest replica to be unveiled in Y’nagar village

- Neeraj Mohan

THE VILLAGE PANCHAYAT HAS PROVIDED 27-ACRE AGRICULTUR­E LAND TO HARYANA TOURISM DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP IT AS A HERITAGE CENTRE

YAMUNANAGA­R : The country’s tallest replica of Ashoka Chakra with the diameter of 30 feet is ready for unveiling in Yamunanaga­r’s Topra Kalan village on January 5. Rajya Sabha member Subhash Chandra and local BJP MP Shyam Singh Rana will unveil the Chakra.

The replica made with 90 quintal metal will be the part of Ashokan Edicts Park, which will be set up by the Haryana Tourism Department in associatio­n with the NGO Buddhist Forum.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICAN­CE

The NGO spokespers­on said the village panchayat has provided 27 acre agricultur­e land to Haryana Tourism Department to develop it as a heritage centre. Emperor Ashoka had constructe­d a pillar about 2,300 years ago in this village but Feroz Shah Tughlaq took that pillar to Delhi in the 14th century and since then the pillar is standing in Kotla, New Delhi, spokespers­on said when asked about why edict park was being set up in Topra Kalan.

Village sarpanch Munish Kumar said, “The Buddhist Forum has provided us the Chakra and we have provided 27 acre land to Haryana Tourism Department for setting up the Ashokan Edicts Park with the help of NGO and village panchayat. Government has already approved ₹2 crore.”

“The motive behind Ashokan Edicts Park is to aware the coming generation­s about Samrat Ashoka,” said founding member of the Buddhist Forum Siddhart Gauri.

He said total cost of the project would be around ₹100 crore while the constructi­on of Chakra will cost around ₹40 lakh.

Employee of the NGO who is monitoring the constructi­on work Surjeet Singh said employees of a private Kamal Engineerin­g Company have given their services free of cost for the design and fabricatio­n work of the Chakra.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Replica of Ashok Chakra ready for inaugurati­on in Topra Kalan village in Yamunanaga­r.
HT PHOTO Replica of Ashok Chakra ready for inaugurati­on in Topra Kalan village in Yamunanaga­r.

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