Govt to release 40 prisoners on Gurpurb

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 16

The state government, which is scheduled to launch the year-long celebrations to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak from Sultanpur Lodhi on November 23, will release over 40 prisoners as a goodwill gesture.

The state is in the process of securing remittance in their sentence from Governor VP Singh Badnore ahead of the inaugural function, which is scheduled to be inaugurated by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

To finalise the year-long calendar of events, a series of meetings are being held before the Chief Minister takes stock of the preparations on Monday. The government is set to launch a special logo, said a senior government functionary.

The government plans to start by taking out a nagar kirtan from Dera Baba Nanak, adjoining Kartarpur village (Pakistan), to Sultanpur Lodhi.

The Congress government will initiate a massive drive to plant 550 saplings each in 12,381 villages. It has decided to set up at a heritage village “Pind Babe Nanak Da” at Sultanpur Lodhi, showcasing the life of Guru Nanak.

“Set in the 15th/16th century, the model walled village in an area of around 75 acres will have dwelling units. A small museum showcasing relics of the Guru will be part of the village,” said a source.

To highlight the significance of Kali Bein, the government plans to develop a promenade along the river that will be weeded and an eco-friendly zone and parks will be built around it, he said. The Kanjli wetland, downstream of the rivulet, will also be developed.

“So far, the Centre has released Rs 35 crore against Rs 2,145 crore sought for various projects for the year-long celebrations,” said an official source.