Rezang La Memorial slowdown: Who to blame?

16 November, 2012

More than a year after it was innaugurated by state chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rezang La memorial, being built at Palam Vihar roundabout to honour the martyrs of 1962 war with China, is no way near completion, forcing the authorities to extend deadline of its estimated completion.

WHILE DIWALI gives people a reason to re-unite with their families, it, at the same time seems to give people a pretext to flout rules and guidelines. At least, that is what has happened with Rezang La memorial – as contractor concerned blames shortage of labourers due to festive season.

Dr TC Rao, an army veteran, President Vijay Diwas and Rezang La Shahidi Samaroh Samiti and Chairman Ex-servicemen Department of DPCC in Palam Vihar, Gurgaon, blamed the contractor for the delay. “The contractor is responsible for slow work and delay. Despite all reminders and warnings, the contractor, Mr Gupta did not pay heed and at last moment started working, that too at very slow pace," alleged Dr Rao – the man behind this initiative.

Holding festive season responsible for the delay, Dr Rao said that all workers visit their villages from Dussehra to Diwali. “The work got delayed as no alternate labour was available,” Dr Rao said. Given the delay, Dr Rao said that his Rezang La Shahidi Samaroh Samiti was forced to extend the deadline, first till November 25 and later December 16.

The dragging of work on the memorial has created mess around Palam Vihar roundabout, and during peak office hours during morning and evening, it leads to massive traffic jams. Not only that – the whole road around the memorial is filled with small stones, which could even lead to accidents. "These stones are very dangerous; it is very risky driving bike on this road. I almost slipped couple of times while driving to office," said Sanjeev Saini.

Adding to the menace is the dust that refuses to settle down. “Not only does it cause suffocation and respiratory problems, it could even lead to accidents as it decreases the visibility,” Shuchi Jain, who stays nearby said.

The memorial's founding stone was laid on September 16 last year in order to pay tributes to all those soldiers from 13 Kumaon Regiment, who died in Indo-China War on November 18 1962. India lost the war but those soldiers won the heart of the country by fighting the enemy in small numbers for many days but eventually lost the war at Rezang La pass, 13 miles from the Chashul air field.