Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said that now the time has come when we must imbibe the teachings of Gurbani in our lives to restore the pristine glory of the state by resolving to save the environment of the state. The Chief Minister said that we have to launch a mass movement for safeguarding our environment so that it can be saved for our coming generations adding that the state government will leave no stone unturned for this noble cause and Punjab will soon be a clean, green and pollution-free state.
While addressing the gathering here on the occasion of the Independence Day, Chief Minister Mann said that due to Punjabi food growers, the country is today exporting the grains to other countries in sharp contrast to early 1960s when we were dependent for grains on other countries. He said that the country can progress only if Punjab is prosperous and on the path of development. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that checking environmental pollution is a serious challenge these days and all the Punjabis should play a proactive role in it.
Quoting verse ‘Pawan Guru, Paani Pitaah, Mata Dharat Mahat’ from Gurbani, the Chief Minister said that the great Gurus have equated air (pawan) with teacher, water (paani) with father and land (dharat) with mother. He also said that the hard-working and resilient farmers of the state acted as a pivot for heralding an era of green revolution in the country thereby making the country self-sufficient in food production. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjabi farmers had to pay a heavy price for it by over-exploitation of only natural resources of the state in terms of water and fertile soil.
Listing the pro-people and development-oriented schemes launched by the state government, the Chief Minister said that his government has laid special focus on rejuvenation of the canal water system in the state adding that when his government had assumed the charge only 21 percent canal water was being used in the state for irrigation purposes. However, he said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that today 72 percent of the canal water is being used for irrigation purposes. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government has ensured availability of canal water to farmers at the tail ends, who were deprived of this for decades, on one hand and saving the precious ground water on the other.
The Chief Minister further said that for the first time in the post-independence era his government has started the work for construction of Malwa canal in the state, which will be lifeline of Malwa region, adding that it is on record that none of the previous governments of the state had paid heed towards this necessity of the state. He said that around 150 kilometres long this new canal will usher a new era of unprecedented progress and prosperity in the state especially in the Malwa region. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government will spend around Rs 2300 crore on this prestigious project that will cater to the irrigational needs of nearly two lakh acres of fertile land of the state.
The Chief Minister further said that New Kandi Canal is being constructed which is likely to benefit 11,000 acres of land adding that 206 MegaWatt Dam is being established at Dhar Kalan. He said that this dam will be dedicated to the people in the coming days for which the entire process has been completed. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjab is witnessing unprecedented development and progress in every arena and this process is gaining momentum with every passing moment.
