Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann urged the people to come forward in large numbers to make Punjab clean, green and pollution free. He made this appeal, while addressing a gathering during a function to mark 22nd anniversary of cleaning of the holy Kali Bein rivulet.
During the event he also announced to launch statewise campaign to clean river and drains.
The Chief Minister said Punjab is a sacred land of great gurus and saints, who have shown the way to preserve the environment.
“Following the footsteps of the gurus, the state government will soon embark upon a massive campaign to clean the natural resources in form of rivers and drains in the state” he said
While there is no dearth of funds for this noble cause, he called upon people to support it and make the campaign a mass movement.
He also said the state government was making concerted efforts to enhance the green cover, for which ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh Haryiwal Lehar’ programme has been started.
The Chief Minister said the government is also making efforts for checking depletion of groundwater by ensuring optimum utilisation of surface water, thereby reducing the pressure on groundwater.
This year the government has incentivised direct sowing of rice (DSR) due to which 20 lakh acres have been covered by opting this method. Mann said in another initiative the government has given MSP on ‘moong’ to diversify from the wheat-paddy cycle and conserve water.
Slamming the previous state governments for ruining the ecosystem of the state, the Chief Minister said it is unfortunate that those who were entrusted the responsibility of serving the state had ruined the ecosystem for their own vested interests.
He also stressed on the need to clean the Buddha Nullah and the Chitti Bein on the same pattern with the support of the government.
Earlier, the Chief Minister planted a sapling on the bank of the Kali Bein and drank water from the Kali Bein and said he was blessed to have got this opportunity.
