A group of women started the campaign with a mission to restore the glory of Shri Amritsar Sahib gor it's 450th Foundation Anniversary.
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Bhagtanwala landfill needs to be removed as it is corroding the gold on the Golden Temple. It is 1500 metres away from the Dana Mandi
Implementation on ban of Single use plastic and Extended Producer Responsibility
Plantation of orchards in entire Amritsar district
Door to Door solid waste Management
RWAs and MWAs to be given responsibility and accountability
Targets, Incentives and penalties
Making it a mass action oriented approach. Involvement of citizens, schools, colleges,
NGOs etc. Initiating EPR Collection centers all across Amritsar.
Punjab Government had asked for suggestions for 450th foundation anniversary of Amritsar.
We've given the following suggestions:
1. To decommission Bhagtan wala Landfill so that there is a complete stoppage of even the tiniest spec of garbage. As it is only 1500 metres away from the Golden Temple. The sheen of the Golden temple is being lost due to toxic gases released from the Landfill. Also Bhagtan wala is right next to the Dana Mandi (grain market).
2. Implementation of SUP Ban (Single Use Plastic) to make Amritsar Plastic Free.
3. Planting of 450 bagichas (orchards) each bagichas comprising of 450 trees in the entire Amritsar district. These trees should be of native variety.
We must remember that when Guru Ram Das ji the foundation of the sacred city this area had lakes and was full of lush green trees and forests. Everyone in Punjab revers the Sikh Gurus and people come from all over the world to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple irrespective of their religion. Just as in the past merchants, traders, farmers, artisans etc. came together to create Amritsar in the guidance of Guru Ram Das ji, time has come for us make it the clean and beautiful Guru Di Nagari.
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Chalo Amritsar is an initiative, Vatrukh Foundation—along with NGOs, women-led groups, and civil society—proposes landfill decommissioning, scientific waste management, plastic-free heritage zones, and 450 orchards to mark Amritsar’s 450thFoundation Anniversary.
Suggestions submitted to the Punjab Government on the occasion of Amritsar’s 450th Foundation Anniversary.
Under the Chalo Amritsar initiative, Vatrukh Foundation, in collaboration with NGOs, women-led groups, and civil society, submitted the following environmental action framework in response to the Punjab Government’s invitation for public suggestions to commemorate the 450th Foundation Anniversary of Amritsar which falls in 2027.
The objective is to mark this historic milestone through lasting environmental action that protects public health, strengthens climate re silience, and safeguards the sacred and heritage ecology of Amritsar, including the surroundings of the Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib).
Key Focus Areas Proposed by Vatrukh Foundation is centred around the old walled City of Amritsar.
Time-bound removal and scientific decommissioning of the Bhagtanwala landfill, located approximately 1,500 metres from the Golden Temple.
Bio-remediation and environmental restoration of the site post-decommissioning.
Strict prevention of open dumping and waste burning during transition phases.
Reclamation of the site for ecological restoration or public green use, subject to environmental safeguards.
Segregation of waste at source (wet, dry, hazardous) across all wards.
Strengthened door-to-door waste collection, especially in the old walled city and dense heritage zones.
Expansion of decentralised composting and material recovery facilities.
Transparent monitoring and enforcement of SWM Rules,2016.
Strict implementation of the Single-Use Plastic (SUP)ban in the old walled city of Amritsar, including markets and pilgrimage corridors.
Support for vendors and residents to transition to sustainable alternatives.
Plantation of 450 orchards across Amritsar district as a commemorative environmental legacy.
Preference for native, climate-resilient fruit species to enhance biodiversity, cooling, and livelihoods.
Chalo Amritsar initiative is rooted in collaboration, consultation, and inclusive participation.
Engagement Includes:
Women-Led Community Outreach: Women’s groups leading neighbourhood-level awareness on waste segregation, public health, and environmental responsibility.
Civil Society Participation: Engagement with citizens, youth, professionals, environmental experts, traders, and sanitation workers to ground policy suggestions in lived realities.
Dialogue with Government Officials: Consultations with relevant departments and officials to share community insights and support effective policy implementation.
Engagement with Elected Representatives: Meetings with concerned political figures to communicate citizen concerns and environmental priorities in alignment with governance frameworks.
Consultation with Religious Heads & Institutions: Engagement with religious leaders and institutions to reinforce environmental protection as an extension of seva and sidak ethics, as a collective duty.
Protecting Amritsar’s environment, especially its sacred and heritage spaces, requires coordinated action between government, civil society, communities, and institutions.
Chalo Amritsar emphasis dialogue over confrontation, solutions over attribution, and policy-aligned, science-based environmental action.
Alignment with Government Priorities
These recommendations align with:
● Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
● Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0
● Punjab Climate Action & Heat Action Plans.
Urban heritage conservation and climate resilience goals
Vatrukh Foundation respectfully submits this integrated environmental action framework under the Chalo Amritsar initiative as part of the Punjab Government’s consultative process for the 450th Foundation Anniversary of Amritsar. Implementing these measures will create a lasting environmental legacy—protecting public health, strengthening climate resilience, and preserving the sanctity of the Golden Temple and Amritsar’s shared heritage for future generations. Key Focus Areas Proposed by Vatrukh Foundation and its collaborative partners.
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Vatrukh Foundation believes in citizens outreach programme, involvement of stakeholders, research based solutions. Community participation for implementation to drive fair, lasting change in society.
Vatrukh Foundation empowers citizens with tools like petitions, research, and outreach so they can engage with decision-makers, hold them accountable, and drive fair, lasting change in society.
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