Sidhu announces Rs 3 cr for Company Bagh

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 18

Minister for Local Bodies Navjot Singh Sidhu announced Rs 3 crore for the development of Company Bagh during a recent visit to the city. Sidhu assigned the job to MLA Sunil Dutti to use the funds as per his wish and revive the glory of the garden. Following the announcement, Dutti has constituted a committee of daily visitors and elderly morning walkers to give suggestions for the development of the historical garden.

Earlier, former minister Anil Joshi had spent crores of rupees to instal tiles, open-air exercise machines and construct a children’s park.

Dutti, MLA from the north constituency, said Joshi installed “unwanted concrete” in the garden, whereas he would increase the green area in the garden. He said he would remove the tiles, if need be, to revive the beauty of the garden.

“The garden needs a track for running, as a large number of residents visit here in the morning and the evening to keep themselves fit. We are planning to make a kutcha running track. Half of the garden lies ignored. We will develop the parks and the green area,” said Dutti.

A suggestion box would be installed in the garden to get suggestions from the general public.

A local NGO, Amritsar Vikas Manch, had expressed their worry over the century-old tree in the garden. The MC had allegedly been replacing native trees with exotic plants.

The historical Ram Bagh was developed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Later, during the British rule, it was renamed as Company Garden. The government has declared it as a heritage site and the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI) is renovating the Summer Palace of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the garden.

A large number of visitors in the morning and the evening from the walled city and the north constituency attract politicians towards the garden. The garden has become a breathing area for residents of unplanned localities of Majitha Road and Batala Road.