Ahead of 450th year, Chalo Amritsar walk flags environmental concerns in city

Amritsar is often called “Sifti Da Ghar”, or the home of the virtuous. Founded as Ramdasspur by Guru Ram Das, the city was established as a centre of commerce, spirituality and sewa. However, in the present context, one is compelled to observe that virtue finds little reflection in littered streets, clogged and choked drains, and polluted air.

Historically, Bibi Bhani, also known as Mata Bhani, played a sacred role in shaping Ramdaspur. Today, inspired by that legacy, 11 women, along with citizens, community representatives and people of all ages, came together to take responsibility and figuratively call for a collective cleaning of Amritsar.

Ahead of the 450th foundation anniversary of Amritsar in 2027, a women-led citizens’ collective under the banner ‘Chalo Amritsar’ organised a public walk from the Hall Gate to the Heritage Street. Participants included women who travelled from Bathinda, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jalandhar to Amritsar to highlight environmental issues affecting Guru Ki Nagri and to submit proposals to the Punjab Government.

The collective highlighted the Bhagtanwala landfill, located about 1.5 kilometres from the Golden Temple and near the Dana Mandi, as a major environmental concern.

“There have been reports proving that emissions from the site affect air quality, public health and food safety across the city. It is also causing deterioration of the gold plating at the Golden Temple. We have called for an immediate halt to dumping, continued scientific remediation of the landfill, and long-term waste management solutions,” said Dr Navneet Bhullar from Jalandhar.

According to the group, addressing the Bhagtanwala issue is critical as Amritsar receives lakhs of visitors daily, and environmental conditions across the city directly affect public health, heritage spaces and the quality of life of residents.

As Samita Kaur, Director of Vatrukh Foundation, said, “Celebrations are important and meaningful, but they will remain incomplete if we do not address the environmental challenges the city is facing. Scientific evidence on air quality, waste emissions and public health clearly points to the need for long-term environmental planning. Amritsar has been declared a holy city, yet the impact of waste and air pollution is deteriorating its very existence.”

She added, “Amritsar’s 450th anniversary should be used as a moment to reflect on the city’s future. Marking 450 years should therefore combine celebration with evidence-based action that safeguards the city for decades to come.”

To mark the foundation year, Chalo Amritsar proposed the creation of 450 bagichas (orchards) across Amritsar district, each with 450 native trees, aimed at improving green cover, supporting biodiversity and aiding groundwater recharge.

Indu Aurora, president of Voice of Amritsar, said clean air and dignified public spaces are essential to preserving the character of Guru Ki Nagri, given the scale of daily footfall from India and abroad. “We as people have also failed the city by becoming complacent in the crime of polluting our surroundings. If we take responsibility, no outsider needs to clean our streets. It is shameful,” she said.

Dr Amrita Rana, a resident who joined in solidarity, said unmanaged landfills have direct public health implications, contributing to respiratory illnesses and unsafe food environments, and stressed the need for timely intervention. Pallavi, a Chandigarh resident who was part of the walk, said, “I feel deeply connected to the city and the cause. As a Chandigarh resident, I understand how citizen responsibility can drive change.”

Members of the Chalo Amritsar collective include Indu Aurora, Samita Kaur, Dr Navneet Bhullar, Dr Amrita Rana, Pallavi Luthra Kapoor, Swaranjit Kaur, Preet Dhanoa, Shweta Mehra, Dr Simarpreet Sandhu, Ripanjot Bagga, Ritu Malhan and Manpreet Khaira. Other members include Dr Manjeet Singh, Tarundeep Singh Ghuman, Bhushan Malik and Yogesh Kamra.