At environment meet, farmers not burning stubble honoured

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Sultanpur Lodhi, November 2

On the sidelines of various religious and social programmes being organised, a two-day conference dedicated to environment got under way at Nirmal Kutiya, the dera of environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechwal, today in connection with the ongoing 550th Gurpurb celebrations.

Speakers, including global thinker Swaraj Singh, Padma Shri awardee Sant Sewa Singh of Khadoor Sahib and environment activist from Rajasthan Shabnam Godara, were among those who addressed the audience. All participants concentrated on environment issues raised by Guru Nanak through his bani “Pawan guru paani pita, mata dharat mahat,” .

As the conference got started amidst smog, Chairman, National Green Tribunal, Jasbir Singh, and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal honoured five farmers on the occasion who have left the practice of stubble-burning for the past four-five years. They are Tega Singh, Amarjit Singh Bhangu, Jagmohan Singh Jaisinghwala and Satnam Singh Fazalwala.

Swaraj Singh said big industrialists for their vested interests were caring two hoots for environment affecting the entire population. He said while corporate houses believed in amassing wealth, Guru Nanak taught a lesson of ‘Wand chhakna’ (sharing income) and ‘Sarbat da bhala’ (welfare of all).

Sewa Singh said human intervention had affected the entire cycle of nature, which was leading to manifold rise in human ailments and climatic change. Activist Shabnam Godara said eight districts of Rajasthan were drinking polluted water from Punjab rivers.

“Of the 2 crore population in these districts, 40,000 people are getting admitted in the Cancer Hospital at Bikaner every year,” she said as she urged people not to pollute Sutlej. The conference will conclude tomorrow with a lecture by Magsaysay Award winner and ‘Waterman’ Rajendra Singh.

Meanwhile, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) today organised the bhog of 15,000 sehaj paths of Guru Granth Sahib at Bhai Mardana Hall of Gurdwara Ber Sahib. The Dharam Parchar Committee of the SGPC organised the paths. SGPC chief Gobind Singh Longowal, ex-chief Jagir Kaur and former minister Upinderjit Kaur were among those present.