Cleanliness takes a back seat in Heritage Street

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 21

Attractive features of the Heritage Street, leading to the Golden Temple, like fancy lights, metal statues and tiles are losing their sheen. These need immediate attention, keeping in view the high tourist footfall. Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi (retired), president, Amritsar Vikas Manch, said the area needed immediate attention. Fancy lights, meant to illuminate the pedestal over which the statue of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is installed, have been off for months.

“The fountain around the statue is also defunct. Besides, cleanliness of the entire statue is another issue. Due to these shortcomings, the white-coloured statues of elephants and motifs around the pedestal have lost their sheen. The colour of these has changed to light brown.”

Manjit Singh Saini, a daily visitor to the Golden Temple, said, “The rising numbers of stray dogs are another problem. The stray animals must be removed. Cleanliness must be looked into and more cops should be deployed for safety of devotees.”

A permanent and non-plan budget must be sanctioned exclusively for the maintenance of the Heritage Street so that no financial issues arise in future, he said.

Mayor Karamjit Singh Rintu said the beautification of the Heritage Street was carried out by the PWD, using the funds provided by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB). The project hasn’t been formally handed over to the MC. However, keeping in view the large number of tourists visiting the place, the MC will carry out its maintenance on priority from July 24, he added.