Development projects worth Rs 17.72 crore have been inaugurated at Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal in the Ram Tirath area near Amritsar.
The works were jointly inaugurated by Rajya Sabha Member and environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, Punjab Public Works Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO and Bal Jogi Pragat Nath, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal Shrine Board.
Speaking at the ceremony, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal emphasised that no compromise would be made in the development of this sacred site. He urged everyone to pledge to build a better society by following the path of love, sacrifice and service to the poor and needy, as shown by Bhagwan Valmiki. He added that the immortal epic Ramayana, composed by Adi Kavi Bhagwan Valmiki, would continue to guide humanity on the path of truth.
He asserted that this is the first government led by the Aam Aadmi Party that is sincerely working for the welfare of the underprivileged and is fully committed to the development of Maharishi Valmiki’s holy shrine.
Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO explained that the Rs 17.72 crore investment would cover painting and polishing of the main temple, repair of pillars along the approach road, silicon cutting of sandstone, and cleaning and rejuvenation of the holy sarovar, including sludge removal and sand refilling.
He stated that repair work of the Sangat Hall stonework, Langar Hall, Sarai and Panorama Hall painting would be carried out at a cost of Rs 2.42 crore, around Rs 1.74 crore would be spent on providing new furniture, air-conditioners and other facilities in the Sarai for devotees. Besides this, over Rs5 crore would be spent on increasing the capacity of the STP, renovation of all bathrooms, installation of new ACs and geysers, fire safety systems and other works.
ETO announced that the government would celebrate Pragat Diwas of Bhagwan Valmiki on a grand scale in October, with devotees expected from across India and abroad. He assured that all development works would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
Among those present were MLAs Jasbir Singh Sandhu and Jaswinder Singh Ramdas, Majha Coordinator of Nasha Mukti Morcha Sonia Mann, Majha Zone Secretary Ravinder Hans, district president SC Wing Inderpal Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rupinderpal Singh, General Manager Madhur Bhatia, Kumar Darshan, SDM Manveer Singh Dhillon, Dalit Development Board Chairman Vijay Danav, Safai Karamchari Commission Chairman Chandan Grewal, Tourism Officer Sukhman Singh and a large number of devotees.
