Punjab CM launches drive to clean rivers, drains of state

Kapurthala (Punjab) [India], July 18 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday launched a statewide campaign to clean rivers and drains of the state.
Addressing a gathering here during a function to mark the 22nd anniversary of cleaning of holy Kali Bein, the Chief Minister said that Punjab is a sacred land of great Gurus and saints who have shown us the way to preserve the environment. He said that following in 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. Bhagwant Mann said that 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 that the state government was making concerted efforts to enhance the green cover in the state for which Shaheed Bhagat Singh Haryiwal Lehar has been started. Bhagwant Mann urged the people to come forward in large numbers to support the campaign to make Punjab clean, green and pollution free.
Quoting from the Gurbani, he said 'Pawan Guru, Paani Pitaah, Mata Dharat Mahat' which explain how our Gurus have equated air (pawan) with teacher, water (paani) with father and land (dharat) with mother. Unfortunately, the word of the Gurus has not been honoured by us, as we have polluted all these three, he added. Bhagwant Mann said that now the time has come when we must imbibe the teachings of Gurbani in letter and spirit to restore the glory of the state.
He further said that the Corona wave has taught us the importance of trees, as people spent huge amounts of money to get artificial respiratory systems in form of oxygen cylinders. As trees are a natural source of oxygen, each one of us should focus on planting more and more saplings for enhancing green cover and saving our coming generations.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is also making strenuous efforts for checking the depletion of groundwater by ensuring optimum utilisation of surface water thereby reducing the pressure on ground water. He said that this year, the state government has incentivised Direct Sowing of Rice (DSR) due to which 20 lakh acres of the state have been covered by this method. Bhagwant Mann also said that in another noble initiative, the state 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 that it is unfortunate that those who were entrusted with the responsibility of serving the state had ruined the ecosystem for their own vested interests. Elaborating on this, he said that those Ministers who were supposed to enhance green cover by planting trees did the opposite by mercilessly allowing felling of trees and claiming commission from it.
He said that these leaders plundered the wealth of the state far more than the Britishers Raj. He said that these leaders minted money illegally for their own interests thereby jeopardising the welfare of the people. Bhagwant Mann said that the open loot of public money by these leaders has derailed the development of the state and cast the people into a vicious circle of poverty.
Pointing at the government's efforts to check the pilferage of public money, the Chief Minister said that the state government has launched a war against corruption to check the open loot of public money. He also said that the taxpayer's money is now being spent on the well-being of people and the development of the state.
Lauding the efforts made by Sant Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal for cleaning Kali Bein, the Chief Minister said that the historic initiative taken around 22 years ago had acted as a catalyst in cleaning this holy bein, where Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji used to have bath in. He said that such efforts need to be replicated at a mass level to carry forward the legacy of great gurus. He assured full support and cooperation for this noble task.
Welcoming the Chief Minister, renowned environmentalist and Rajya Sabha Member Sant Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, apprised him about the efforts made for cleaning the Bein in the past 22 years. He also stressed on the need to clean Buddha Nullah and Chitti Bein on the same pattern with the active support of the state government.
Earlier, the Chief Minister also planted a sapling on the bank of Bein. Bhagwant Mann also drank water from the Bein and said that he was blessed to have got this opportunity.
On the occasion Revenue Minister Brahm Shankar Jimpa, MLAs Balkar Singh, Raman Arora, Sheetal Angural and Inderjeet Kaur Mann, former Punjab Minister Joginder Singh Mann and others were also present.
Prominent amongst others present on occasion included Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal, Deputy Inspector General of Police S Bhupati, Senior Superintendent of Police RS Sandhu, Additional Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Himanshu Jain and others.