A delegation of US Sikhs from California recently had a fruitful meeting with the SGPC who will move forward with an impressive solar power project in Amritsar.
Rs. 8 crore (a little more than $1 million) is the price tag for an impressive development which will put solar panels on roofs of the buildings associated with Sri Darbar Sahib complex and other Gurdwaras in the holy city.
SGPC president noted, "In a meeting today, it is discussed that the project of installing a solar power system at Sri Darbar Sahib complex will be completed in three to four months. It has been decided that a 1MW solar power system will be installed at the roofs of buildings associated with Sri Darbar Sahib. This task has been assigned to United Sikh Mission and Sikh Lens Foundation, both of California, USA. This 1MW solar power plant would produce about 14 lakh units of electricity per year and it will reduce electricity expenses of SGPC at Sri Darbar Sahib by about 50% i.e. about Rs 1 crore," also adding that in the near future these solar power systems will also be installed at Takht Sahibans and other outside gurdwaras of the SGPC.
Tribune India reported:
Rashpal Singh Dhindsa (chairperson United Sikh Mission) said the project would cost around Rs 8 crore and it would take around four months to fit the equipment.
“Abiding by Gurus’ teachings, the US Sikh sangat spared their dasvandh (one-tenth of the earnings) for the noble cause. The project would be executed in a phased manner and our aim was to illuminate the whole shrine complex uninterruptedly. This 1MW solar power plant would produce about 14 lakh units of electricity per year and it will reduce electricity expenses of SGPC at Sri Darbar Sahib by about 50 per cent i.e. about Rs 1.25 crore annually,” he said.
He also said, "We feel blessed and are thankful to Guru Ramdas Sahib Ji for blessing us with the sewa of installation of solar systems at Sri Darbar Sahib. We also thank SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur for giving us this opportunity. The Sikhs settled abroad are eager to do sewa. We have completed the study to install the solar power plant. We received proposals from seven top solar companies based in India and the same is being discussed. We look forward to completing the project in about three to four months. We request Sikh sangat settled abroad to contribute to the sewa of Guru Ghars with their dasvandh.”
Sikhism if the youngest of the major world religions, it is only appropriate that it's most sacred site adopt more modern technology.