SGPC wants no vehicles in Golden Temple’s vicinity

Chandigarh: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today suggested that the area around the Golden Temple should be declared a no-vehicle zone. It also told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the entry of heavy vehicles should be banned inside the walled city.

The suggestion came during the hearing of a petition for ensuring the Golden Temple does not lose its sheen to pollution. In its reply, the SGPC also made it clear that it proposed to give subsidy on liquefied petroleum gas for gurdwara langar to reduce the use of wood.

The SGPC, in fact, recommended a ban on diesel, kerosene and petrol-operated autorickshaws in the area. In alternative, it suggested the use of CNG or battery-operated rickshaws. It also recommended installation of smoke-control devices at the cremation grounds and factories in the city.

It also suggested the construction of multi-storeyed parking for heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses, tempos and tractors. The case will now come up for further hearing on September 10.

The havoc environmental pollution is playing with the Golden Temple had come under the judicial scanner about two years back, with the court calling for putting in place some mechanism to check pollution in the vicinity.

The matter was placed before the Bench after Justice Ranjit Singh had taken suo motu cognisance of a letter written by one Gursewak Singh to the Prime Minister, with a copy addressed to him.

Justice Ranjit Singh asserted: “One Gursewak Singh has addressed a letter in Punjabi to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, sharing concern about pollution being caused to Sri Harmandar Sahib at Amritsar….

“I have received a copy of this letter through post, which is enclosed in original. As per the letter, the industry in and around the area is causing pollution to the gold plates fixed on the domes of the Gurdwara Sahib.

“There has also been discolouration of white marble. As per this letter, even some invaluable mural paintings are getting spoiled.”

• The SGPC has made suggestions to check discolouration of the Golden Temple’s gold-plating and the white marble
• It wants the area around the shrine to be declared as a no-vehicle zone
• Says the entry of heavy vehicles should be banned inside the walled city
• Suggests ban on diesel, kerosene and petrol-operated autorickshaws
• Demands the use of CNG or battery-operated rickshaws
• Proposes subsidy on liquified petroleum gas for gurdwara langar to reduce the use of wood
• Recommends installation of smoke-control devices at cremation grounds and factories in the city

Source: The Tribune