Hoshiarpur, August 6
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday gave a clarion call to the people to transform plantation drives into a mass movement to check environmental pollution and enhance the green cover of the state.
Addressing the gathering during a state-level function to mark Van Mahotsav in Hoshiarpur today, Mann said that this was a unique initiative aimed at enhancing the green cover across the state.
Quoting the verse 'Pawan Guru, Paani Pitaah, Mata Dharat Mahat' from Gurbani, Mann said that the great Gurus have equated air (pawan) with the teacher, water (paani) with father and land (dharat) with the mother and during those times, there were no industrial units that were polluting the environment but it was the farsightedness of the great Gurus that aimed at checking the pollution.
Mann said that now the time has come when they must imbibe the teachings of the Gurbani in their lives to restore the pristine glory of the state by resolving to save the environment of the state.
He said that the state government would leave no stone unturned for that noble cause and he added that the people of the state should also support the state government by planting more and more trees.
Mann said that it was the need of the hour to transform the plantation drive into a mass movement to benefit the people.
He also stated that Punjab was the first state in the country to launch the carbon credit scheme to preserve the environment and check global warming and that this project had been launched in the state with the help of TERI as a pilot project in which 3686 farmers from across the state will be disbursed Rs 45 crore in four installments.
Mann also distributed cheques worth Rs 1.75 crore to 818 farmers in the Hoshiarpur district as the first installment of this ambitious scheme.
He said these funds would be transferred to the farmers through the Direct Benefit Scheme and envisioned that this scheme would act as a pivotal for reducing the effects of greenhouse gases, adding that this is based on the 'Polluter Pays Principle' where polluters compensate the organisations and farmers working to reduce carbon emissions.
Mann said that the saplings planted by farmers play a pivotal role in reducing environmental pollution so they can be eligible beneficiaries of this scheme.
He said that owing to this, they had witnessed a lot of natural fury across the country, adding that the only solution for this was to plant more and more trees. Mann advised the farmers that every food grower who was getting free power must plant at least four trees on his farms and if needed, that would also come in the form of a law to save the coming generations.
Mann further stated that during the time he assumed office, only 21 per cent of canal water had been used. However, he said that it was a matter of great pride and satisfaction that today 72 per cent of the canal water is being used for irrigation purposes.
Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the New Kandi Canal was being constructed, which is likely to benefit 11,000 acres of land, and also added that a 206 MW dam was also being established at Dhar Kalan.
He said that the state government had taken exemplary initiatives for the well-being of the state and its people and for the first time in the post-independence era, his government has started the work for the construction of the Malwa Canal in the state, adding that it is on record that none of the previous governments of the state had paid heed to this necessity of the state.
Mann further said that the 150-kilometre-long new canal will usher in a new era of unprecedented progress and prosperity in the state, especially in the Malwa region, adding that the state government will spend around Rs 2300 crore on this prestigious project that will cater to the irrigational needs of nearly two lakh acres of fertile land in the state.
Training his guns against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, Mann said that the former Deputy Chief Minister is trying to mislead the people through his political gimmicks and quipped that the scion of the Badal family is now seeking pardon for his actions but he should remember that an apology might be given for the misdeeds but his sins were unpardonable.
Mann said that the Badal family had committed heinous sins against the state and its people that could never be forgiven.
He said that the state government has been gathering evidence about the sacrilege incident, adding that the real culprit of this crime will be behind bars soon.
He also went against the rebel Akali leadership and said that these leaders are now shedding crocodile tears over the issue, whereas they were part of the Badal family during their sins.
Mann said that these leaders cannot absolve them of their sins merely by issuing statements now.
He said that gone were the days when the government used to run from the offices in Chandigarh and for saving time, money, and energy of the people, the sovereign masters of the state, now the government is being run from the villages and towns.
He said that the state government had already launched its flagship scheme, Sarkar Tuhaade Dwaar, under which village-level camps are being organised to offer citizen-centric services to people at their doorsteps.
Mann said that more such pro-people initiatives would be taken in the coming days for the welfare of people.
Cabinet Ministers Bram Shanker Jimpa and Lal Chand Kataruchak, Lok Sabha MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal and others were also present at the occasion.