SGPC mulls green belt at Golden Temple, other shrines

Tribune News Service
Amritsar, January 3 

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), in coordination with the Forest Department, has planned to increase the green belt in the Golden Temple complex. Plans are also afoot to set up green belts in other gurdwaras and educational institutions being run under its control. 

A meeting was held between officials of the SGPC and the Forest Department. 

Forest Officer Rajesh Gulati said plants would be provided free of cost to the SGPC and the latter would share the responsibility of taking care of the plants. “Apart from traditional plants, we will provide plants which have medicinal value,” he said.  

Chief Secretary Dr Roop Singh said the SGPC wanted to plant ornamental saplings around the parikrama of the shrine, which is mostly covered with marble. “The plan is to raise a green belt in some portions of the parikrama. The marble tends to get hot during summer. These plants would not only beautify the area, they would also provide relief from heat. Besides, some other spots towards inns and the office too would have a green cover,” he said. 

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee recently created a vertical garden with 24,000 plants of different varieties in the shrine complex. 

 Dr Singh told that a circular would be released to other gurdwaras and educational institutions to identify suitable spots on their premises where green belts could be created.