New Delhi, July 14
After dithering for months, the Union Government today agreed to provide Rs 55 crore for the fourth phase of “Galiara Yojna” at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

The government clearance came after a high-level meeting between Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani, Tourism and Culture Minister Jagmohan, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP and Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief K.S. Badungar and SGPC member Kiran Jyot Kaur were also present at the meeting.

While agreeing to release the money as grant, the government has decided to form an implementation committee which would be headed by Mr Jagmohan. The other members of the committee are still to be decided. It will prepare a time-bound programme for the completion of the fourth phase of the project.

The committee was apparently formed at the insistence of Mr Advani as he wanted that the programme be completed in a time-bound manner. He was also of the view that the movement of the devotees, to and from the shrine, should not be affected during the development programme.

The clearance from the Home Ministry now would facilitate the granting of the money by the Ministry of Finance. The fourth phase will involve acquisition of property around the temple and construction of an underground parking area, apart from landscaping around it. Besides, roads around the temple and in the vicinity will be set up and a shoe room will also be constructed.