The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which was entrusted with building of memorial for former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at his burial site at Pei Karumbu near here, has begun the construction of compound wall around the site.
After DRDO architect Colonel Viswajith visited the site on December 25 following reports that cattle and dogs entered and defecate the site in the absence of a compound wall, DRDO engineers visited the site on Tuesday and commenced the compound wall work.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a DRDO Engineer said the organisation had taken possession of the site and commenced the compound wall work with levelling and marking.
The wall at the height of about 10 foot from the ground level would be ready in two or three months, he said. In the first phase, the compound wall at the periphery of 1.37 acres of land would be built, the engineer said. Meanwhile, A.P.J.M. Sheik Saleem, grand nephew of Mr. Kalam, said the family members, in response to a DRDO communication, suggested that the proposed memorial should have brick and sand collected from all the States in the country to symbolise Mr. Kalam’s love for the country.
The ‘House of Kalam’ has also suggested that one of the family members should be accommodated in the building committee and the DRDO accepted the suggestions and agreed to take the family members into confidence while finalising the design for the memorial, he said.
Quoting officials, Mr. Saleem said the DRDO had proposed to invite designs from students before finalising the design for the memorial as they felt that the memorial should have the ‘touch of students’, who were endeared by the former president. Five best designs would be selected of which, a jury comprising leading architects, would select the best, he said.
The design for the memorial complex with library, knowledge centre and a museum was expected to be finalised in a couple of months, he said. He said Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan spoke to him a few days ago and assured that the memorial work would commence at the earliest.
