A Monstrosity in the Making: How SGPC’s High-Rise Project Defiles the Sacred Skyline of the Golden Temple
If the SGPC truly respects the sanctity of the Golden Temple, Amritsar, it must immediately halt construction and explore alternative solutions that do not desecrate the sacred landscape.
Preserving the Pristine Beauty of the Golden Temple: A Call for a Comprehensive Review
The controversy surrounding the high-rise building being constructed near the Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib) complex in Amritsar has reignited concerns about preserving the sanctity and architectural ethos of Sikhism&rsquos most revered shrine. While the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) may have noble intentions in constructing a multi-storey building to house its staff and accommodate Jathedars, the real issue is not merely about whether it surpasses the height of the building of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the supreme temporal authority and seat of the Sikhs worldwide. The fundamental concern is that no new high-rise structure should be visible from within the Parikrama of the Golden Temple&mdashthis principle guided the original beautification efforts and must be upheld today.
The Genesis of the Golden Temple Beautification Project (Galiara Project)
To understand the present fiasco, we must trace its origins to the late 1980s, when the Golden Temple Beautification Project, popularly known as the Galiara Project, was conceived in the aftermath of Operation Black Thunder (April-May 1988). This was a bloodless operation, carried out under the direct command of the Government of India, at a time when the state was under President&rsquos Rule, to flush out militants who had once again taken refuge inside the shrine complex&mdashjust years after the most egregious and bloody Operation Blue Star of June 1984.
Following Operation Black Thunder, the Central Government decided to create a security belt around the Golden Temple by acquiring and demolishing a number of high-rise buildings and densely populated ramshackle structures. While the stated purpose was essentially security, the consequence was massive displacement of the local population. Tenants ran from pillar to post seeking rehabilitation, while absentee landlords walked away with hefty compensation due to liberal land acquisition compensation.
The concept of a security belt, despite official emphasis on civic infrastructure improvements and beautification-cum-removal of encroachments, faced strong resistance from militant elements. The plan envisaged police and paramilitary vehicles patrolling the area, but the work was abandoned after the Project Superintending Engineer was gunned down in his office in Amritsar in August 1990.
During my tenure as Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar (1992-96), the security belt concept was transformed into a beautification project in consultation with the SGPC. This transformation has been acknowledged in Khushwant Singh&rsquos latest edition of History of the Sikhs. Instead of an unsightly security buffer, we focused on beautifying the outer periphery of the Golden Temple, ensuring it remained a no-motor-vehicle zone and adhered to Sikh architectural principles, with the tacit approval of the SGPC. This effort aimed to restore the spiritual and aesthetic harmony of the surroundings, ensuring that nothing obstructed or defiled the sacred skyline of the Golden Temple.
Demolition of High-Rise Structures for Aesthetic Integrity
As part of the Galiara Project, several high-rise buildings, including Akhada Brahmbutta, which stood adjacent to the site where the refurbished twin Ramgarhia Bungas stand today, were demolished. This structure had been acquired and was temporarily being used as a police station. Other buildings&mdashsome with historic significance, yet insignificant when compared to the divine and pristine glory of the Golden Temple&mdashwere also removed. However, this was considered a necessary step to preserve the sanctity of the complex and uphold the aesthetic and spiritual integrity of its beautified periphery.
A particularly crucial intervention was the removal of a proposed water tank, which engineers had planned dangerously close to Gurdwara Baba Atal, a pristine multi-storey Gurdwara on the periphery of the Golden Temple complex. The very idea of erecting a massive overhead tank&mdasha concrete monstrosity&mdashso close to the sanctum sanctorum was appalling and unacceptable.
As Project Director, I immediately cancelled the water tank proposal put forth by the project engineers, even though the work had already been tendered out and allotted, ensuring that no such unsightly structure would mar the view from within the Parikrama or compete with the sublime profile of Gurdwara Baba Atal. Instead, we implemented a far more suitable solution&mdasha subterranean water reservoir with an underground pumping system to meet the shrine&rsquos water supply needs. This approach not only safeguarded the sanctity of the surroundings but also ensured that functionality and aesthetics remained in perfect harmony.
The Present Crisis: A Concrete Monster in the Making
Fast forward to today, the high-rise SGPC structure threatens to undo the meticulous efforts undertaken decades ago. Even if it does not technically exceed the height of the Akal Takht building, the fact remains that it is a visible, obtrusive concrete mass that mars the pristine skyline of the Golden Temple.
From inside the Parikrama, the sanctum sanctorum should open into an unbroken, spiritually uplifting view, untouched by modern urban clutter. This new structure, however, looms large over the serene precincts, compromising the aesthetic and spiritual integrity of the shrine.
The SGPC&rsquos intent&mdashto provide accommodation for respected Jathedars and its staff&mdashmay be noble, but the means must align with the guiding architectural and spiritual principles of the Darbar Sahib. If the SGPC itself violates these principles, it sets a dangerous precedent, opening the floodgates for further commercial and high-rise developments near the shrine in the future.
Golden Temple&rsquos Sanctity at Stake: An Urgent Call for Preservation
The fundamental issue is not just the height of the structure, but its visibility from within the Golden Temple complex. Whether the land belongs to the Municipal Corporation, whether it was transferred to the SGPC, or whether building plans were sanctioned&mdashthese are all secondary legal matters. The primary concern remains the visual sanctity of the shrine.
The Government, SGPC, Sikh historians, architects, and civil society must urgently collaborate to conduct a thorough reassessment of development policies governing the Golden Temple periphery. No structure&mdashregardless of ownership, intent, or official approvals&mdashshould be permitted if it is visible from within the Parikrama.
It is deeply regrettable that while the SGPC remains leaderless&mdashwith President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami having submitted his resignation and the truncated Executive Committee preoccupied with either removing Jathedars or lecturing them on the limits of their authority&mdasha project that defiles the pristine skyline of the holiest Sikh shrine is progressing unchecked. And it would not be an exaggeration to say so.
Meanwhile, Sukhbir Badal&rsquos Shiromani Akali Dal, reeling under the impact of the historic Hukamnama of December 2, 2024, is embroiled in a highly contested, if not tainted, new membership drive, struggling to reclaim legitimacy. With other political priorities consuming its focus, it has failed to exercise control over the SGPC, which it effectively commands, to halt this ill-conceived project before further damage is done.
If the SGPC truly respects the sanctity of the Golden Temple, it must immediately halt construction and explore alternative solutions that do not desecrate the sacred landscape. Preserving Darbar Sahib&rsquos ethereal beauty is not merely about safeguarding its physical structure&mdashit is about honouring its spiritual essence, ensuring that future generations inherit it in its purest form. This is not just a concern for Sikhs alone, but for all of humanity&mdashfor devotees and visitors from across the world who seek solace, inspiration, and a connection to this unparalleled symbol of faith and heritage.
Author: KBS Sidhu (IAS)