Don’t raze Golden Temple ‘sarai’: Activists

Conservationists have voiced concerns over losing the historical character around the Golden Temple by replacing old structures with new ones. Situated in the vicinity of the Golden Temple, they favour preservation of oldest ‘sarai’ Sri Guru Ramdas Ji Niwas, which the SGPC decided to demolish to pave way for new construction. Conservationists are citing both national and international rules to stress the point. Citing the report of the National Commission on Urbanisation, published in 1988, Rajinder Singh Baath, a retired archaeologist of the Department of Cultural Affairs, Archaeology and Museum, pointed out that neither an elevated road nor a flyover or a road-widening scheme was allowed in historical towns. Baath said the focus must be to preserve the old buildings.