Punjab govt sanctions 60 cr for cleansing Kali Bein

Kapurthala, June 1 : The Punjab government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 60 crores for 'cleansing' of the sacred Kali Bein rivulet and stop the sewerage of towns and villages situated on its course from flowing into it.

This decision was taken in a meeting between Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal at Chandigarh on Tuesday last. Baba Seechewal is involved in cleaning the sacred rivulet, in which the first Sikh Guru Nanak Dev is believed to have attained enlightenment after taking a dip.

Jalandhar Member Parliament Rana Gurjit Singh, Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Raminder Singh and Hoshiarpur Deputy Commissioner D KTiwari also participated in the meeting.

The Chief Minister lauded the efforts of Baba Seechewal in cleaning the 160 kilpmeter long Bein and restoring its sanctity.At the meeting the Baba demanded stopping of sewerage water of towns and villages from flowing in the Bein.

The Baba also demanded release of 400 cusecs of fresh water from Mukerian Hydel Channel, widening and cleaning of the Bein and ban on the construction within a radius of 250 meters on both sides of the Bein.

The Baba's other demanded included declaring the area in the proximity of the the course of the Bein as a green belt and removing encroachments on the rivulet bed. He also demanded that the state government issue a notification declaring the Bein as a sacred rivulet besides granting holy status to the hisrtoric town of Sultanpur Lodhi, where Guru Nanak is believed to have evolved 'Ek Om Akaar' (God is one).

According to sources close to the Baba, the chief minister has agreed to accept all demands put forward by him in the meeting.

Baba Seechewal when contacted said that the CM has also accepted his invitation to visit the Bein within a fortnight to see the cleaning operation from village Dhanoa in Hoshiarpur district to Sultanpur Lodhi.

UNI