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A 'Golden' Bath for the Pool - After 4 Centuries! AMRITSAR: Water in the sacred tank of the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine of Sikhs, is to be cleaned up for the first time in four centuries. A hi-tech filtering system will be used for the purpose. For millions of Sikhs, the pool surrounding the sanctum sanctorum of the temple is literally 'nectar of the gods'.
Thousands of devotees visiting the shrine take a dip, and many even drink the water in the belief it will wash away their sins. Amritsar city itself, which grew around the Golden Temple several centuries ago, derives its name from the 'Amrit Sarowar' or pool of nectar. Now, hundreds of years after the Sarowar was first filled with water, the custodians of the Golden Temple have decided to bring in American technology to purify it. A group of engineers recently completed designing the water-treatment system after carrying out a detailed survey of the current water supply and distribution system. Douglas G Whitetaker, an engineer of the team, said they aim to put filters at the water supply system. "One of the primary focuses will be the implementation of a sand filtration system. With the sand filtration system we will provide clear water, and even the average user of the temple will be able to see further into the water. It will provide a much clear aspect of operation of the temple pond," he informed. Within a few months time, the work will be completed and the water will be as pure as bottled mineral water, it is claimed. Baba Amrik Singh, a religious leader responsible for the maintenance of the ponds, said the state-of-the-art system will clean up every drop of the 31,000 million gallons of water surrounding the temple. Singh added that the canal waters supplied to several other nearby shrines will also be similarly treated before being released into the temple tanks. "Filters will be installed at the head of the supply tank that is the canal. They will be installed on all the three main supply places at one go," said Singh. Although a closely guarded secret, the cost of this venture is expected to be huge, probably running into millions of dollars. But temple authorities are confident that devotees will contribute liberally and there will be no shortage of funds. Sources said a US-based expatriate Sikh family has already promised to finance a large part of the project. -ANI |
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