NAROWAL: Authorities have felled a guava orchard on four acres around the samadhi of Baba Guru Nanak in Kartarpur to enlarge the complex.

Dawn learned the orchard was felled in connection with the construction of the Kartarpur corridor project which is to attract an influx of Sikh pilgrims from India. The new site will accommodate 300,000 Sikhs for religious rites.

The orchard added beauty to the site and Sikh pilgrims from all over the world used to pick guavas at the gurdwara of Baba Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikh religion.

Authorities have taken remedial steps too as guava plants are being planted in other fields.

Heavy machinery such as excavator and dumper are at work at the site to expedite the completion of the corridor. The boundary wall of the temple will be demolished. A new wall will be raised about 300 feet from the old one.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2019