Jallianwala Bagh: Worn out sandbags of makeshift bunkers an eyesore

Manmeet Singh Gill

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 7

Even as the central government is harping on implementation of the Swachh Bharat campaign, the entrance gate of Jallianwala Bagh, which comes under the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Trust headed by the Prime Minister, is littered with discarded sand-filled bags, which are used by the police for security reasons. This is not only giving a shabby look to the monument, but also hampering visitors’ passage.

The sand bags were used to construct a makeshift bunker for security personnel. However, with time, as the bags have become worn, the sand has been scattered on the road.

The entire passage to Golden Temple starting from Townhall had earlier been given a facelift under the beautification project. The entire path is dotted with facades, giving a historical look to the buildings and the interlocked tiles. Many statues of cultural and historical importance also mesmerise the visitors.

In this backdrop, the worn-out sandbags appear as an eyesore to the visitors to the monument. “It is not a task which requires great resources and a large manpower. All that is required is a trolley and a few men who can lift the sandbags and remove these from here,” said a nearby shopkeeper, Kanwar Lal. 

He said the sandbags had been lying there for a long while and the recent rains had caused further damage to these bags. 

“Now these bunkers cannot be used by the security personnel. It will be better if the sandbags are removed,” said Harnam Singh,  a visitor.