Pollution boards to conduct survey

CHANDIGARH: The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Punjab Pollution Board would initiate a joint scientific study to save most sacred religious place of Sikhs, Golden Temple from the ill effects of rising pollution in its vicinity.

Disclosing this here today, Bikram Singh Majithia, Science and Technology and Environment Minister said that assistance of CPCB has been sought of because it had a vast experience of suggesting measures for protection of Taj Mahal.

The Minister said that the State government was worried about the increasing pollution level in the surroundings of Golden Temple and its ill effects on it.

He said that Sri Darbar Sahib Complex as a whole was an example of architectural skills and precious paintings other symbolic heritage of Sikh Gurus. But due to urbanization,industrialization and other domestic activities pollution level was increasing in the city if Amritsar day by day hence threatening this precious Heritage site.

The Minister said that many scientists, intellectuals, writers and Sikh-thinkers had raised their voice against the threats of pollution to Harmander Sahib through their writing and media reporting.

According to the initial studies the probable reasons identified were transportation, industrial and commercial activities, huge buildings and their emission around the complex. Similarly with in the complex also the use of fuel in community Kitchen and other domestic activities and non-point sources of pollution were also identified reasons.

Majithia said that since no scientific and systematic study had been conducted with regard to identifying and quantifying the factors affecting the Sri Harmander Sahib, it has been decided to rope in CPCB in this exercise.