Movement needed to save Punjab's water: CM’s I-Day message
Aparna Banerji
Tribne news Service
Jalandhar, August 16
CM Bhagwant Mann, on Thursday, observed the 78th Independence Day at a state level event in Jalandhar. The CM spoke at length on state's water crisis, the government's renewable energy plans and delved in detail on the manifold sacrifices by the martyrs of the state. The CM also stressed on the state government’s policy for drugs.
Honours 15 eminent personalities
- Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann conferred state awards to 15 eminent personalities for their outstanding contribution in various fields besides bestowing Chief Minister’s Rakshak Padak on three police officers/officials, Chief Minister’s Medal for Outstanding Duty to 18 cops and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Punjab State Annual Environment Award to two
- These awardees included social activists, artistes, litterateurs, poets, environmentalists and government officials besides a student, who have made outstanding contribution in their respective fields
The state CM issued his first-ever Independence Day speech from Jalandhar, speaking from behind a bullet-proof glass module. It is CM's first I-Day address at Doaba after the formation of the AAP government. The CM hoisted the Tricolour at the Guru Gobind Singh Stadium in Jalandhar. State DGP Gaurav Yadav was also present on the occasion.
CM Mann said, "It has been 78 years since the country's Independence and freedom has special meaning for Punjabis. Eighty per cent sacrifices for freedom were made by Punjabis. Be it the Kuka Lehar, Ghadar Movement, Komagatamaru incident, Babbar Akali Movement or other movements, Punjabis were at the forefront. Baba Ram Singh, Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, Lala Lajpat Rai, Shaheed Udham Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Diwan Singh Kalepani and many others sacrificed their lives. We also bore the pain of the bloody episode of partition in which 10 lakh lives were lost. Freedom came at a very heavy price but the contributions made by Punjabis despite these wounds, remains unprecedented."
The CM said while the state remained at the forefront in addressing India's food needs, making India food surplus through the Green Revolution, that in turn had robbed the state of it’s water.
He said, “Green revolution proved very expensive for the state. Our water has ended, it has gone down to 600 feet. Named after five rivers, Punjab is in a water crisis of underground, surface as well as drinking water. To address this, a movement will have to be run. The AAP government has begun working on this. Old canals, drains, tributaries, rivulets etc. are being revived so that canal water goes to fields.”
He said Gurus have equated air (pawan) with teacher, water (paani) with father and land (dharat) with mother. Now is the time to imbibe the teachings of Gurbani to restore state's environment, to it's erstwhile pristine glory.
