Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Hira Singh Gabria on Thursday said that Sangeet Academy would be set up in the city at the cost of Rs 10 crore. Improvement Trust, Ludhiana, has transferred 2.1 acre of land at Raj Guru Nagar to Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department for setting up the academy.

Gabria was addressing a Shardhanjli Samaroh organised in the memory of Ishmeet Singh, winner of Star Voice of India, on his first death anniversary at Guru Nanak Bhawan on Wednesday evening. On this occasion, Gabria also presented a cheque of Rs 50 lakh to the deputy commissioner, Vikas Garg for construction of Ishmeet Academy, as second installment.

Gabria also said that an academy would also be set up at Patiala district in the memory of the great dramatic artist Harpal Tiwana. He said that 1.5 acre of land in Patiala for Harpal Tiwana Drama Academy has been also transferred to the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department for this purpose.

The Cultural Affairs Minister further said that Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had already announced a grant of Rs 20 crore for the construction of these academies. Out of this Rs 1 crore had already been disbursed through cheques. The Minister said that different committees have been constituted to complete the said projects in stipulated time.

On this occasion, Priyani Vani, Abhas, Irfan, Rohanpreet Singh, Vipul and Haneet Singh presented a cultural programme. H.S. Bawa, a journalist from Daily Ajit also did a presentation on the life of Ishmeet Singh.