Chandigarh, March 2 || In a major step to strengthen pilgrimage infrastructure and promote environmental sustainability, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains on Monday announced arrangements, including a permanent all-weather tent city, for the ongoing Hola Mohalla celebrations at Anandpur Sahib.
Bains unveiled a series of initiatives, including India’s first permanent air-conditioned tent city and the observance of Green Hola Mohalla. “The permanent tent city was conceived after the success of a temporary structure last year and a subsequent inspection by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, following which the facility has now been established in the holy city,” he told the media here.
“This is a historic moment for Punjab’s religious tourism. We are dedicating a permanent, fully air-conditioned tent city to the public today. This facility, the first of its kind in the country, will address the accommodation shortage faced by devotees year-round. It will not only serve pilgrims under the Mukh Mantri Tirath Yatra Scheme but also provide a significant fillip to Anandpur Sahib’s tourism potential, offering visitors an experience of a lifetime.”
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to environmental conservation, Bains announced that this year’s Hola Mohalla will be celebrated as Green Hola Mohalla. He informed that a comprehensive ban has been enforced on single-use plastics, with the Punjab Pollution Control Board bearing the entire cost of providing biodegradable alternatives at all langar establishments.
“Given the massive scale of ‘langars’ serving lakhs of devotees, we have prioritised environmental concerns. Every plate, cup and utensil used will be made of biodegradable, non-plastic material,” he said.