Eco -concerns: SGPC want ban on entry of heavy vehicles near Darbar Sahib

Amritsar, Punjab (January 18, 2014): It is learnt that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the authorities concerned have adopted a number of measures, including the deployment of electricity-operated four-wheelers to preserve the Darbar Sahib’s sheen.

As a public interest litigation (PIL) on preservation of gold platings and marble used at Darbar Sahib (Amritsar) came up for hearing, the Punjab and Haryana High Court was informed that the electric four-wheelers had been deployed to ferry the “sangat” from Fawara Chowk to the Darbar Sahib.

The High Court was also informed that the district transport officer had issued a notification banning the plying of more than 15-year-old vehicles in the vicinity.

Plying of heavy vehicles, too, has been restricted. Their entry to the vicinity has been banned from 8am to 8pm.

The SGPC had earlier suggested that the area around the Darbar Sahib should be declared a no-vehicle zone. It also told the High Court that the entry of heavy vehicles should be banned inside the walled city.

The SGPC suggested a ban on diesel, kerosene and petrol-operated autorickshaws in the area. As an 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.