Meat, liquor ban in Golden Temple zone rattles Amritsar biz; families fear job loss

AMRITSAR: A determination by Punjab's AAP govt to state Amritsar's Walled City a 'Holy City' with a prohibition connected fish, nutrient and baccy income has triggered heavy anxiousness among hundreds of families whose livelihoods beryllium connected their trade.

Walled City is the portion astir the Golden Temple.CM Bhagwant Mann announced the "historic decision" successful a Dec 21 video message, designating Shri Anandpur Sahib, Talwandi Sabo (Bathinda) and the Walled City of Amritsar arsenic 'holy' cities.While the determination has been projected arsenic an effort to sphere the sanctity of the country surrounding the Golden Temple, those astatine the receiving extremity accidental it threatens to hitch retired generations-old businesses without offering immoderate alternative.Rajinder Kumar, a fourth-generation food trader operating wrong Hall Gate, paints a grim picture. "There are 18 suppliers. This was the archetypal wholesale food marketplace of Punjab and supplies food to assorted districts adjacent today. With 1 order, generations of hard enactment is being erased," Kumar said, adding each store employs implicit 40 workers.Manmohan Singh, proprietor of an eatery wrong BK Dutt Gate, questioned the logic down declaring the full Walled City a 'Holy City'.

"There was already a Galliara astir Golden Temple, wherever specified restrictions are followed. Why widen it to the full Walled City? We person not been fixed immoderate alternative. Amritsar is not lone a spiritual city. It is besides known worldwide for its food," Singh said, adding traders were not consulted earlier the decision.Representatives of the hospitality sector, portion welcoming the sentiment down the decision, acknowledged its uneven impact.

AK Chattha, president of Amritsar Hotel and Restaurant Association, said meat, food and baccy sellers would carnivore the brunt, not hotels. "Hotels tin bring nutrient from extracurricular and set their menus. But this determination whitethorn alternatively summation amerciable commercialized and corruption," helium cautioned.BJP functionary Jagmohan Singh Raju demanded a broad rehabilitation policy. "Declaring Sri Amritsar a beatified metropolis is simply a historical step, but it indispensable beryllium implemented with foresight.

Sanctity cannot travel astatine the outgo of livelihoods. Rehabilitation is not a concession - it is simply a responsibility," Raju said successful a missive to CM Mann.The governing AAP promised relief. "Govt volition guarantee due rehabilitation. If businesses are removed, alternate arrangements volition beryllium made successful a phased and planned manner. Authorities volition consult those affected, prosecute with applicable institutions, and enactment retired the champion imaginable and mutually acceptable solution to guarantee livelihoods are protected," elder AAP functionary Baltej Pannu said.For tiny vendors similar Moti Ram, who runs a pan-cigarette kiosk, the bid has shattered immoderate consciousness of security. "I person spent my full beingness selling cookware and cigarettes here. This abrupt determination has pulled the crushed from nether my feet," helium said.The municipal corp has identified astir 150 meat, baccy and liquor shops that would person to beryllium relocated.