Ahead of the celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak Dev in November 2019, renowned environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal on Sunday took the initiative to clean and beautify the berms of 30 kilometre long Kapurthala- Sultanpurlodhi road named after Babe Nanki, sister of Guru Nanak Dev.
Guru Nanak Dev spent 14 years of his early life at Sultanpurlodhi in the house of his sister Babe Nanki and is said to have got enlightenment at this place.
Seechewal and his associates, besides local residents removed filth and garbage lying for decades on the both sides of road with the help of tractors and JCV machines.
He told media that cleanliness and beautification drive would continue till November 2019, birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev.
Seechewal said all the roads leading to Sultanpurlodhi would be cleaned and beautified with fruit and ornamental plantations besides flower beds so that devotees thronging to Sultanpurlodhi feel the beauty of celebrations.
Baba and his followers also planted saplings on both sides of the road.
Sant Seechewal is credited with the cleaning of 160 kilometre long holy Kali Bein manually few years ago.
He also expressed his displeasure with the State Government for not stopping the dirty water of towns and villages still flowing in the holy Kali Bein rivulet when the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev is approaching fast in November 2019. He said the State Government should stop the flow of dirty water in the holy rivulet.
Seechwal said he would clean the holy Bein and Chhoti Bein falling in Kapurthala from its hyacinth and under water vegetation before the start of celebrations. Notably, Guru Nanak Dev used to take bath daily in this rivulet during his 14 years stay at Sultanpurlodhi .