Methods to tackle air pollution around Golden Temple discussed

AMRITSAR: To check pollutants affecting the Golden Temple, Punjab government has announced several measures, including setting up of Rs 1.50-crore air control monitoring station near the shrine. Amritsar deputy commissioner (DC) Ravi Bhagat told TOI that the station would not only monitor pollutants but would also help in checking their spread.

He held a meeting with officials of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and Amritsar municipal corporation on Wednesday. DC Bhagat further said that among measures taken to check pollution, the administration has decided not to allow vehicles older than 15 years to enter the walled city besides providing a list of three-wheelers, which are more than 10 years old, to the police.

To prevent pollution caused by electricity generators, government has decided to set up a 66KV substation to ensure round-the-clock supply in areas around the Golden Temple complex. Bhagat said that the government had also decided not to allow any new industry to be built within 2km radius of the Golden Temple.