AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—While a sacred city for the Sikhs, Amritsar is also a popular tourist attraction. Everyday, thousands of Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike visit Sri Harmandir Sahib, also known as the Golden Temple. Around the Harmandir Sahib complex and throughout the city and the bazaars, there are several illegally constructed hotels and inns. Now, the Government is all set to make a one time exception for these buildings to stay and obtain legal licenses to operate.The move by the Government has come as a surprise as it differs completely from SGPC’s previous functioning where they have been buying shops around Sri Harmandir Sahib to make the area appear more open.
The one time exception policy by the Government has been promised as “one-time settlement policy” and will provide relief to over 100 such businesses, which would have otherwise been demolished as per the Municipal Building bylaws.
Harjap Singh Aujla, a freelance journalist stated, “I knew it from day one that during the election year, the Punjab Government will bend its rules backwards and allow the illegal hotels to flourish in the back allys of old Amritsar.”
Another user commented, “the lesson of the story…quickly create illegal businesses that the SGPC is also operating as the government will legalize it eventually.”
It is without a doubt that accommodations are hard to find around Sri Darbar Sahib complex, however, SGPC employees are notorious for not granting rooms in its sarans (inns) despite availability of rooms. “SGPC employees just like to keep their rooms vacated. Even with reservations, they will not grant rooms to the pilgrims, however, once you get a senior SGPC official to ring inn employees, they magically have rooms available,” Gurpreet Singh told Sikh24 after recently visiting Amritsar from New York.