Summary:
AMRITSAR: The 440th Amritsar Foundation Day (AFD) will be celebrated by various religious bodies, NGOs and Karsewa Wala Babas on Tuesday.The city was established by the fourth Sikh master, Guru Ram Das on Haad Vadi 13, 1577.While talking to TOI Sunday, head of Eco Amritsar Gunbir Singh informed that they will take out a march from Akal Takht at 6am which will culminate at Ram Bagh Gardens with a citizens meet to discuss various environmental issues.Narinder Sharma, a Shiv Sainik, informed that they had organised eight Havna Yajnas simultaneously at different temples to mark the foundation of Amritsar. "Amritsar is our identity and we are known because of this city which was established by Guru Ram Das so it becomes duty of every Amritsari to celebrate the day and pay respect to Guru" he said adding that a plantation drive would be launched for making city's environment healthy and provide much needed green cover.Stating that Amritsar was facing severe environmental challenges, Gunbir said the city had been named as one of the 20 most polluted cities in the world and there was only 1% of forest area left in its mapped ecology.He informed that Eco Amritsar team had initiated projects to involve schools, colleges, businesses and gurdwaras to take green steps and also to promote organic food.He said that besides district administration, various Karsewa Wala Babas including Baba Kashmir Singh Bhuriwale, Baba Sewa Singh Khadur Sahib, Jatha Bhai GurIqbal Singh, Baba Kulwant Singh, Kesh Sambhaal Sanstha, Art of Living, Dilbir Foundation, Art Gallery, Voice of Amritsar, Khudai Khitmatgaran, Amritsar Vikas Manch were actively participating in the week long celebrations.He said they had engaged youth from various educational institutions to join in and make all nagar kirtans garbage free..