Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Hon
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Man has appealed to the people to make the tree plantation drive a mass movement to curb pollution and increase green space in the state. The Chief Minister was addressing a state level program in Hoshiarpur on the occasion of Forest Mahan Utsav. Referring to the Gurbani verse ‘Pavnu Guru Pani Pita Mata Dharti Mahtu’, the Chief Minister said that the great Gurus have given the status of Guru to Air, Father to Water and Mother to Earth. His vision was to eliminate pollution.
The Chief Minister said that the time has come that we should follow the teachings of Gurbani so that the environment of the state can be restored to its ancient glory. He said that the state government will leave no stone unturned for this noble cause. Chief Minister Bhagwant Maan said that the people of Punjab should plant as many trees as possible. It is the duty of all of us to protect the environment as per the demand of time.
The Chief Minister said that Punjab is the first state in the country to implement ‘Carbon Credit Scheme’ to save environment and control global warming. He said that the project has been implemented in the state in collaboration with TERI (Energy and Research Institute) and as a pilot project 3686 farmers of the state will be given Rs. 45 crore will be distributed.
Bhagwant Singh Mann has given 818 farmers in Hoshiarpur Rs. 1.75 crore checks were distributed. The Chief Minister said that this amount will be transferred to the bank accounts of farmers who are playing an active role in preventing environmental pollution. The Chief Minister said that for the first time after independence, a government has started the construction of Malwa Canal in the state. He said it was a record that no previous government in the state had addressed this need.
Chief Minister said that man has played with nature by cutting trees indiscriminately. He said that due to this human error we are facing natural calamities across the country and the only solution is to plant more trees. Bhagwant Singh Mann advised farmers to plant at least four saplings in their fields.
He also said that if needed, a law can be made in this regard to protect our future generations. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the new Kandhi Canal is being constructed which is likely to benefit 11,000 acres of land. He said that a 206 MW capacity dam at Dhar Kalan would also be inaugurated soon.
Bhagwant Singh Ma further said that this new canal, about 150 km long, will usher in a new era of unprecedented progress and prosperity in the state, especially in the Malwa region, and the state government has invested about Rs. 2,300 crore will be spent. This will meet the irrigation needs of lakhs of acres of land in the state.
