Amarinder to personally review preparations for Guru Nanak Dev's 550th birth anniv celebrations

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Friday said that every fortnight he would personally review the progress of the preparations for celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of the Sikh faith.

Presiding over an executive committee meeting to review the arrangements for the mega event, Singh said he would convene meetings on the 1st and 15th day of every month for the purpose.

He also directed the Cabinet sub-committee comprising Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to monitor the progress on daily basis and update him accordingly.

An official release said it was decided in the meeting that the main function would be organised on November 12 at Sultanpur Lodhi, where Guru Nanak Dev spent nearly 18 years of his life.

The chief minister also approved starting of 'Bebe Nanki' Government College for Girls in Sultanpur Lodhi from the already existing Guru Nanak Dev University Regional Campus, Fattu Dhinga, as a constituent of the university.

The vice chancellor of the university had requested the chief minister to take over this state-of-the-art regional centre to enable commencement of classes from the current academic session.

Singh also directed the rural development and panchayats department to sanction Rs 20-25 lakh to each village in the first phase under a plan to develop 41 villages visited by Guru Nanak Dev during his lifetime.

He told the cultural affairs and tourism department to invite all prominent academicians, dignitaries, politicians, religious personalities and eminent Punjabis settled across the world for the celebrations.

The chief minister also directed the additional chief secretary (Home) to ensure foolproof security for the millions of devotees who were expected to pay obeisance at the historic Sultanpur Lodhi gurdwaras.

The meeting discussed the conservation of the historical monument at Sultanpur Lodhi, for which tenders has already been floated by the cultural affairs department and the work was slated to be completed by September 30, the release said.

Acceding to the request of Randhawa for the identification of a Guru Nanak Marg, the chief minister gave approval to develop the route from Sultanpur Lodhi to Dera Baba Nanak via Dhilwan, Rayya, Baba Bakala, Chowk Mehta and Batala.

The principal secretary (transport) informed the meeting that the department was in touch with the railways ministry for plying of special trains to Punjab from across the country, and particularly from places with large Sikh population.

The Chief Minister also gave approval to the Punjab State Industries and Export Corporation to get commemorative 5 gm gold and 50 gm silver coins minted through Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation of India for this auspicious occasion.