More water to be released in Punjab rivulet for holy dip

Ahead of the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev, the Punjab government said on Thursday it would release 500 cusecs of fresh water into the Kali Bein rivulet to enable devotees to take a holy dip in it.

It is said that Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, used to take bath in this rivulet and had attained enlightenment on itd banks of this Bein. The first Sikh Guru had spent 14 years in Sultanpur Lodhi.

"Keeping in view of importance of the holy Kali Bein in the Sikh religion, the state government has decided to facilitate pilgrims for holy dip in this historic rivulet, where Guru Nanak Dev ji used to take bath," Tourism Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said.

He said 500 cusecs of freshwater would be released from the Mukerian hydel from October 23 in the Kali Bein to facilitate devotees.

The minister said the state government had spent Rs 4.96 crore at Mukerian hydel for concrete lining of the banks of the rivulet to release freshwater.

Two-platoon bridges, which are being constructed at the Kali Bein, will be completed by October 21