M A I N   N E W S

SGPC, district admn lock horns
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Jan 8 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and the district administration have locked horns over the construction of fourth phase of ‘galliara yojna’ (beautification of the surroundings of the Golden Temple).

While carrying out the fourth phase of the beautification plan, the officials of the ‘galliara yojna’ have decreased the width of the road which would hamper the free movement of the vehicles bringing ration for langer and of devotees.

In a letter, addressed to the Deputy Commissioner-cum-Administrator, ‘galliara yojna’, Dr Gurbachan Singh Bachan, SGPC Secretary, said that the width of the road in front of Guru Arjun Niwas would be decreased if the no corrective measures were taken immediately. The work on the fourth phase of the “galliara yojna” is going on at a fast pace. Dr Bachan said that if the present scheme was implemented it would cause great inconvenience to the devotees.

Mr Satpal, Superintending Engineer, “galliara yojna”, said that total cost of the fourth phase would be Rs 3 crore. It would be completed within a year. He said the width of the road could not be increased as it would disturb the entire fourth phase of the beautification plan. He said the Delhi-based architect, Mr Ravindera Bhan, engaged by the Government of India, was unlikely to accept the demand of the SGPC for increasing the width of the road.

Though Dr Bachan has urged that the width of the road should be at least 35 to 40 ft but Mr Satpal said it could be increased from the present 19 ft to 22 ft at the most. He said as per the architectural design, there would be sufficient parking, beautiful land-scaping and installation of fountains. A footpath would be provided between the bazar and main entrance of the Golden Temple for the benefit of the devotees.

Mr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, senior vice-president, Amritsar Vikas Manch, however, alleged that the Central Government had altered the original plan due to paucity of funds. He claimed that as per original design, the parking facilities were underground but the new facilities were being constructed on the level ground. He further claimed that the original plan was of Rs 125 crore and the Central Government had released only Rs 75 crore in 1988 while the rest of the funds could not be released so far. He said the Central Government should release the rest Rs 50 crore balance immediately for proper beautification of the surroundings of the Golden Temple. He further alleged that the Central and state governments had adopted an ‘adhocism’ for completion of the rest of the phases of the “galliara yojna”. He said if the Central and state governments could not earmark sufficient funds for implementation of the original plan, it should give the scheme to “kar seva wale babas”.

However, Mr Narinderjit Singh, Deputy Commissioner, when contacted claimed that there was no ‘dispute’ between the SGPC and the district administration. He said ‘everything’ would be sorted out amicably.