Amid Punjab's ongoing struggle to curb the widespread practice of stubble burning in farms, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, on Thursday, drew upon the verses of the holy Gurbani to implore farmers against burning crop residue due to its detrimental impact on air quality. According to a news report by News 18, incidents of stubble burning surged in Punjab again with 2,544 farm fires on Wednesday.
Mann, addressing an event in Ludhiana, expressed concern over the environmental consequences, stating, "We are burning our oxygen. The smoke first passes through the lungs of our children and then it goes elsewhere." He specifically referenced stubble burning and the bursting of firecrackers in his remarks, reported news agency PTI.
The plea comes in the wake of Punjab recording over 30,000 incidents of crop residue burning since September 15, with the burning of paddy straw in both Punjab and Haryana contributing to the alarming rise in air pollution levels in the national capital during October and November.
Quoting the Gurbani verse 'Pawan Guru, Paani Pitaah, Mata Dharat Mahat,' Mann highlighted how the Sikh Gurus revered air (pawan) as a teacher, water (paani) as a father, and land (dharat) as a mother. He urged the adoption of these teachings to discourage the burning of crop residue, the PTI report stated.
Emphasizing the need for collective action to combat environmental pollution, the chief minister called on individuals to actively participate in efforts to address the issue.
During a state-level function commemorating the martyrdom day of Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, Mann announced that the upcoming international airport in Halwara, Ludhiana, would be named after the freedom fighter. Sarabha, India's youngest revolutionary who sacrificed his life at the age of 19, played a crucial role in the fight against foreign imperialism as an active leader of the Ghadar Party.
Mann praised Sarabha's contributions to the country's liberation and stated that the airport project, with 80% completion, would soon be operational as Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha International Airport.
Advocating for the Bharat Ratna award to be conferred upon Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, and other legendary martyrs, Mann asserted that the state government would spare no effort in developing the martyr's native village into a model community. The chief minister also paid homage to Sarabha by visiting his ancestral house and offering floral tributes.
(With PTI inputs.)