Friday, 25th January 2008 (3012 views)

Authorities in Punjab are proposing strict new measures to curb traffic and industrial activity around the Harmandir Sahib, or Golden Temple, in a bid to save its 24ct gold walls from being damaged by pollution, reports say.

Indian news service New Delhi Television (NDTV) says previous measures, which included installing four pollution monitoring machines at the 17th century temple, one of the holiest sites in Sikhism, have not done enough.

Now the Central Pollution Control Board and the Punjab Pollution Control Board are proposing an exclusion zone in a 500-metre radius around the temple. No vehicles or industrial emissions would be allowed inside.

Temple management and pilgrims want central and local government to "whatever necessary" to save the shrine, NDTV reports.

Darshan Singh Mann, a tourist visiting the site, told the station: ''Pollution is everywhere in the city but it is a big threat to the Golden Temple.''

A similar traffic ban is already in place around the world famous Taj Mahal in Agra.

 

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