Causeway on wrong side, Akal Takht obliterated in prize-winning modelCM, SGPC chief, top architects, IAS officers all fail to notice, now they all say they are shocked
Dabwali-Punjab Government released a photograph of a model of the Golden Temple with the grand new entrance plan. Top architect Moshe Safdie had reviewed the model. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar held meetings over it, and Secretary Culture & Tourism Geetika Kalha, IAS besides minister Upinderjit Kaur joined heads to thrash out the plans for Grand Entrance Plaza.
Mainstream newspapers published the photograph on front pages. And yet none noticed that either the new plans involve obliterating the Akal Takht and demolishing the causeway (bridge) leading to the sanctum-sanctorum or the experts messed up too badly.
The model has the causeway on the wrong side, and the Akal Takht had gone missing.
When Punjab Today made enquiries, one after the other expert expresses shock, some were left aghast at the incredible blunder, others turned back to ask "why didn't the architects notice it" and a few said they can't believe their eyes. Well, now even we don't believe their eyes.
Now, Avtar Singh Makkar says "chotti jihi technical galti ho gayee" while Geetika Kalha says "model was only suggestive (sic)." We have little idea about what these worthies meant, but they sure rewarded the model with Rs 5 lakh prize money.
