india

Updated: Mar 29, 2017 00:17 IST

Hoisted with much fanfare and fluttering at a height of 360-ft , India’s tallest tricolor at the Attari-Wagah border, which is exposed to high wind speed and extreme weather conditions, will be replaced for the fourth time.

Not only this, Punjab’s tallest tricolour, which stands at a height of 170 ft at a public park in Ranjit Avenue on Amritsar Bypass (NH 1 leading to the border), will be replaced for the 14th time.

The Amritsar Improvement Trust (AIT), which is responsible for the upkeep of the tricolour has replaced both the flags numerous times bearing huge expenses.

“Both these flags have set new standards in cost and the patriotism cost is just too high here, said chairman of the AIT Suresh Mahajan. While the 170-ft flag will cost us around Rs 65,000, for India’s tallest tricolour will have to bear for Rs 1.5 lakh, said Mahajan.

He said around Rs 15 lakh have been spent on both the flags so far and with no solution in sight, the expenses seem to be a regular affair.

“People behind installing the flags should have examined the flag material as is failing to withstand the wind flow.”

Mahajan said when former minister Anil Joshi took up the initiative of installing the flags, it was assured that there would be a dedicated maintenance team for the flags but when the the files were checked there was no such agreement.

“ The tricolour is our honour. That it is getting damaged and tearing off so often is a shame for us,” said AIT officials. AIT officers suggested the tricolour must be hoisted ceremoniously at sunrise and lowered with same respect at sunset as this will not only honour the flag code but also save the fabric from being damaged.