Amritsar : In less than two years of the 'Kar Sewa' of 'Amrit Sarovar' (Holy Tank), held amid religious fervour and fanfare, a snag has developed in the Rs 5 crore filtration plant, donated by US-based 'Tut brothers', compelling the SGPC to reduce the level of Sarovar by several feet, much to the chagrin of the devotees.

The "seva" was started by five Sikh saints — Baba Jagtar Singh Tarn Taran, Baba Harbans Singh Delhi, Baba Labh Singh Anandpur Sahib, Baba Seva Singh Khadur Sahib and Baba Mohinder Singh of the Nishkam Sevak Jatha Birmingham (UK) — with five spades and bowls made of gold and silver, respectively, in accordance with Sikh traditions on March 25, 2004.

Before the installation of the filtration plant, the then Head Granthi, Harmander Sahib, Giani Puran Singh and senior experts had raised objections on the plea that it (filtration plant) was not workable.

However, Mr Roop Singh, Manager, Darbar Sahib, claimed that the current problem was short-lived since the snag in the filtration plant stood removed.

He, however, said that there was 'no problem' with regard to the filtration process since new pipes had been inserted in the holy tank. Everything would be alright within couple of days.

Steps were taken to stop draining the water after washing sanctum sanctorum of Harmander Sahib. Separate route of drainage had been designed for making sarovar water cleaner.

The construction of the Golden Temple tank undertaken under the supervision of Guru Ram Das, assisted by Baba Budha Ji started on November 6, 1573, and the digging was completed by 1577 AD. While the tank was under construction, Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, then thought of building a temple in the midst of the tank (giving lotus-like shape).

After the constitution of the SGPC, the first kar seva to clean the sarovar was undertaken on June, 17,1923. Second kar seva was launched on March 31, 1973 by five Sikh Saints during Army operation in June 1984 as the sarovar got desecrated with the dumping of arms and ammunition and bodies of the visiting pilgrims. The temple complex was handed over to the Sikh clergy on September 29.

The kar seva of the sarovar was again undertaken on October 12, 1984, the birth anniversary of Sri Guru Ram Das.

After Operation Black Thunder a kar seva was also conducted on May 19, 1988.