Bathinda: Two months after ‘Operation Sindoor‘, Punjab govt has decided to outdo the neighbouring country when it comes to the height of the national flag on the Mahavir-Sadqi border in Fazilka district — a check post where a flag-lowering ceremony takes place every evening, just like it does at the Attari-Wagah border.The state govt has now erected a 60-metre-high (nearly 200 feet) flag post at the border. Once completed, the post will hoist a 40-foot-tall, 60-foot-wide tricolour. On the Pakistan side, a 50-metre-high (nearly 165 feet) flag post was unveiled some years ago.The flag post has been prepared from galvanised iron with a power coating, while the flag will be made of fibre cloth. The flag is expected to be unveiled by Aug 15, and it will be used only on occasions, while another flag of 32 by 48 feet will be unfurled regularly.At the Sadqi border too, spectator galleries have been constructed on either side for people to witness the retreat ceremony. Rooms for flag meetings also exist at the border post. There are headworks on the Pakistan side over the Satluj river, which reach here from the Hussainiwala border in a zigzag manner by entering and exiting Pakistan.The flag post was erected on a high cement concrete pedestal as a heavy crane erected the flag post on Sunday. Panchayati raj executive engineer Rajesh Grover said the flag post and flag had been prepared in such a manner that they will face the least damage even in bad weather. “The flag post has been erected at the border point, and electric connections are being given. When completed, it will be handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) as the area falls under its jurisdiction,” he added.
