Cracker pollution is ruining Golden Temple.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) should take immediate steps to control pollution around Golden Temple, said Maninderjit Singh Bitta, president, All India Anti Terrorist Front, to the media here.

Bitta said the SGPC should frame a policy within the next three or four months for initiating steps for controlling pollution caused by the use of fire crackers in the temple complex. He said the authorities concerned should also take preventive measure to control pollution created by the small scale industries situated around the temple.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Punjab Pollution Control Board, which had been monitoring the environment around the Golden Temple, found high levels of harmful nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide in the ambient air. The experts had also cautioned that fireworks release these gases which could react with marble leading to its corrosion and blackening. The miniature paintings and gold plating are also under threat from the harmful gases, the experts added. He said the recent study was an eye opener for him as he had never imagined that fireworks at the shrine complex could cause such a damaging effect on the Harmandir Sahib.

He said it was difficult to change the 400-year old tradition but the SGPC authorities should discuss the issue so that the shrine could be saved from being damaged.

Comments (0) >>

Show/Hide comments

Write comment

You must be logged in to post a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.