US Sikhs offer to set up solar power plant in Golden Temple complex

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 22

With the assistance of US-based Sikhs, the SGPC has initiated to install a solar power system in the Golden Temple complex.

SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur on Monday held parleys with a delegation from California-United Sikh Mission led by Rashpal Singh Dhindsa and Sikh Lens Foundation president Vicky Singh and the members of coordination committee for installing solar power system, including coordinator Baldev Singh Kang, technical experts Balaur Singh, director retired PEDA (Punjab Energy Development Agency) and Dr NP Singh, retired Dean Punjab Technical University (PTU), Ranjit Singh and Avtar Singh.

Bibi Jagir Kaur said the SGPC executive had decided to put the power supply mechanism on solar system mode and United Sikh Mission volunteered to do the service.

“After exploring all the technical feasibility, it was decided that a solar power system of at least 1 megawatt (MW) capacity could be installed as a pilot project. The equipment would be fixed on the rooftop of buildings located in the Shrine complex. Thereafter, it could be replicated in Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Deep Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib and other gurdwaras,” she said.

Rashpal Singh Dhindsa said the project would cost around Rs 8 crore and it would take around four months to fit the equipment.

“Abiding by Gurus’ teachings, the US Sikh sangat spared their dasvandh (one-tenth of the earnings) for the noble cause. The project would be executed in a phased manner and our aim was to illuminate the whole shrine complex uninterruptedly. This 1MW solar power plant would produce about 14 lakh units of electricity per year and it will reduce electricity expenses of SGPC at Sri Darbar Sahib by about 50 per cent i.e. about Rs 1.25 crore annually,” he said.

Meanwhile, Vicky Singh also showed gratitude towards the SGPC which gave them an opportunity to contribute for the Shrine.

“We had received proposals from seven top solar power companies based in India and the best was chosen to execute the job,” he said.

During the meeting, Sikh Lens Foundation also presented a set of books to Bibi Jagir Kaur with information of gurdwaras and Sikh heritage in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

On this occasion, senior vice-president Surjit Singh Bhitewad, SGPC member Bhai Manjit Singh, Amrik Singh Vichhoya, Gurmeet Singh Booh, assistant secretary Kulwinder Singh Ramdas, Golden Temple manager Gurinder Singh Mathrewal, OSD Dr Sukhbir Singh were present.

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