Sikh committee organizes plantation drive in Amritsar

From Asian News International
Amritsar, Apr 9, 2011: With awareness on environment gaining momentum, the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an apex body overseeing Sikh shrines, has initiated a plantation drive around the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
The objective of this plantation drive is to make the area around the temple greener.
Members of the committee said the plantation drive is being undertaken to make people aware about the significance of environment.
“Sikhs are very much attached to this temple. So, if we take such an initiative, people would definitely follow it and would start doing the same in other parts as well. Thus, it would get a wider exposure, which is very important,” said Sardar Jaswinder Singh, an SGPC member.
SGPC members also said that the green belt would result in providing a soothing and calming effect to the shrine during the summer.
“The floors of the temple are made of white marble and emanate a lot of heat, especially during the summer months. So, if we plant the surrounding area with green plants, it would have a soothing and calming effect on the shrine and thus on the devotees as well,” said Sardar Amrik Singh, an SGPC member.
The Golden Temple is the holiest place of worship for Sikhs. It is also a major destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
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