Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today announced to develop 15 native villages of great martyrs, freedom fighters and warriors as the ''heritage sites'' on the national map of tourism to perpetuate their legacy and inculcate the spirit of nationalism and patriotism amongst the young generation.

The chief minister made this announcement while paying floral tributes on the 160th martyrdom day of great Sikh warrior General Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala, who laid down his life on February ten, 1846 while fighting the British during the battle of Sabraon.

Capt Singh said these proposed heritage villages included Attari (Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala), Wadala Viram (Shah Mohammad), Kupkalan (Wada Ghallughara), Khanuwan (Chotta Ghallughara), Pahuwind (Baba Deep Singh), Gujrawala in Pakistan (Hari Singh Nalwa), un-habited Shiana Bangar (Akali Phoola Singh), Chulat (Harchand Singh Jaijee),Pheruman (Jathedar Darshan Singh Pheruman), Bhattal (Baba Hira Singh Bhattal), Kairon (Partap Singh Kairon) Sarbaha (Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha), Khatkarkalan (Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh), Dudhike (Punjab Kesari Lala Lajpat Rai) and Thikriwala (Praja Mandal activitist Sewa Singh Thikriwala).

Capt Singh said that each village would be provided Rs one crore to initiate the project comprising of a memorial, a museum and the landscaping of the site. He said that the paucity of funds would not be allowed to hinder the progress of these heritage projects.

Refering to the proposed heritage site to be developed in the memory of Hari Singh Nalwa at Gujranawala in Pakistan, Capt Singh deputed Punjab Cultural and Tourism Minister Partap Singh Bajwa, who was scheduled to visit Pakistan on February 12, to take up this issue with Pakistani Punjab Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi.

He, however, said the proposal for setting up a memorial in the memory of Akali Phoola Singh would be finalised with the descendents of his family and the district administration of Sangrur, as his native village has been declared un-habited Shiana Bangar by the state government.

He cited example of our freedom fighters who laid down their lives during the Independence movement and narrated about his visit to Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands where he visited the cellular jail where thousands of freedom fighters from Punjab were kept in captivity during the British regime.

Chief Minister assured the Sardar Sham Singh Attariwala Trust to develop Attari - the native village of the great Sikh warrior, aesthetically so that the people visiting the border areas could pay their homage to the illustrious son of Punjab for his unparalleled and supreme sacrifice.

He announced a grant of Rs ten lakh for the boundary wall, land scaping and museum at the site of the memorial, besides erecting a life size statue of Attariwala at G T Road Cherhata by-pass.

He also announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the completion of Gateway of India at Cherhata which was hanging in fire for the last two decades, he directed the Mayor to accomplish this prestigious project within eight months and expressed his keen desire to dedicate it to the nation on Dushera.