In an attempt to beautify the interior and surroundings of the holiest Sikh shrine, the SGPC with the help of Baba Jagtar Singh of kar sewa wale, today launched a drive to turn the parkarma of Golden Temple green that would be instrumental in saving the shrine from vehicle corrosion .

Most of the plants, which were planted today, have been mentioned in gurbani. The joint initiative of Mr Roop Singh, manager Darbar Sahib, Baba Amrik Singh and Mr Jaswinder Singh, advocate, a member of SGPC, more than 3000 plants of 51 varieties were planted. The drive to green the parikarma was inaugurated by Bhai Gurbachan Singh, Head Granthi, Golden Temple, and Baba Jagtar Singh. Earlier, a prayer was performed to launch the drive.

Mr Roop Singh said that he and Baba Jagtar Singh had visited a number of nurseries of the country to select the plants. Herbal plants were also being planted, he said.

Earlier, a UNESCO nominee, Dr Enamul Haque of Bangladesh, who was instrumental in recommending reports on various heritage sites, including Hampi in Karnataka, had also provided useful inputs for the beautification of the Golden Temple.

During his visit to the holy city last year to personally review the 500-page dossier for the grant of heritage site status to the Golden Temple, he had felt the need to replicate the guidelines presently in operation around the Taj Mahal in Agra. Professor Haque had also pointed out that the government must ban the use of vehicles around the Golden Temple complex. He had also suggested that only battery-operated, eco-friendly vehicles be allowed in the area. This would save the Golden Temple from pollutants emitted by vehicles. These pollutants could cause damage to the marble and the gold plating of the shrine. He had pointed out that the Galliara Project should have lot of green spaces to help beautify and save the shrine from the corrosion due to large-scale movement of vehicles.