The foundation stone for erection of a pillar in memory of Sachidananda Mallick at Kandiahata village in Kendrapara. Telegraph picture

Kendrapara, July 27: The district authorities forgot to honour a martyr at a time when the country observed Vijay Divas paying glowing tributes to the heroes who had laid down their lives in Kargil war.

The foundation stone plaque of the memorial pillar of the Kargil martyr, Sachidananda Mallick from Kandiahata of Kendrapara district, is gathering dust at his native Kandiahata village.

Twelve years on, nothing has been done to erect the memorial pillar.

Mallick was enrolled in Indian Army as a sepoy in 12 Mahar regiment in 1989. Later, he was promoted to the rank of lance naik. Fighting for the country in the war, he had laid down his life on June 28, 1999.

There was considerable hype over success of the Operation Vijay, and this river-locked hamlet commemorated the war victory with the “son of the soil” making the supreme sacrifice.

On June 28, 2001, the then Lok Sabha member, Pravat Samantaray, accompanied by the collector, had laid the foundation stone of the memorial pillar. Work for pillar installation has not moved an inch since then.

The then MP had also sanctioned funds for the memorial pillar under the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme.

Rajkanika block development officer Basudeb Mahari said: “I do not know anything about the memorial pillar project. I am new to the place. However, steps will be taken to put in place the memorial pillar.”

“It is a dishonour to a martyr. It is indeed unfortunate that the pillar is yet to come up,” said former Kendrapara MP Samantaray.