Environment conclave by Uttam Hindu Newspaper
Jalandhar, September 17, 2017: Expressing grave concern over the day by day increasing environmental pollution in the state, the Speaker of Punjab Assembly Rana KP Singh today gave a clarion call to people for joining hands to launch a mass movement for making Punjab a clean, green and pollution free state.
Addressing the gathering during an environment conclave organized by the Uttam Hindu newspaper here today, the Speaker said that Punjab was once a beautiful and fertile land and even great Mughal King Babur had in his memoirs wrote that land was so fertile that even a dead wood could grow green here. However, he bemoaned that today air, water and land of great seers, saints and Gurus was badly polluted. Rana said that this ever increasing pollution was proving fatal for the state as people were suffering from deadly diseases like Cancer and others.
The Speaker said that the situation in state was very alarming and the cities like Ludhiana, Mandi Gobind Garh and other cities of Malwa region were turning into hub of environmental pollution. He said that so it was the need of the hour to make concerted efforts for checking the environmental pollution, for which every Punjabi would have to come forward. Rana also urged the top brass of the newspapers to play a leading role in saving our environment as this message could be rapidly disseminated through them.
Evoking the examples of great personalities of state like Master Tara Singh, Mr Pratap Singh Kairon, Mr Harkrishan Singh Surjeet, Dara Singh and others, the Speaker said that it was a matter of great pride and satisfaction for us that Punjabis have always shown the door to country in every field. Rana also recalled the immense contribution of Ajit group of newspaper under Mr. Barjinder Singh Hamdard in spreading message of greenery by planting more than 40 lakh saplings in a special campaign. He said that it was the high time that all the political parties and other distinguished personalities of the state join hands for launching a major social movement to save our environment. Complementing the management of Uttam Hindu newspaper for organizing this event, Rana said that it would disseminate the much needed message of environment protection amongst the masses.
In his address Editor in Chief of Ajit group of newspaper Mr Barjinder Singh Hamdard squarely blamed the unabated urbanization as one of the main reason for increasing environmental pollution. He said that along with it lack of will at political level to check water wastage, water pollution, population control and others has also contributed in aggravating these problems in the state. Mr. Hamdard said that slogan of Swachh Bharat was a step in right direction as it has played a key role in sensitizing people regarding environmental pollution.
Lauding the Uttam Hindu group for organizing this event, Dr Hamdard said that it was matter of great pride and satisfaction that newspapers were again playing their real role by involving themselves in the mission to serve the society with full zeal. He said that this initiative would go a long way in awakening the people about this issue of immense public importance. Mr. Hamdard said that not only newspapers but all sections of society would have to make strenuous efforts for meeting this challenge and making the state clean, green and pollution free.
In his address environmentalist Baba Balbir singh Seechewal lauded the initiative taken by the Uttam Hindu group to organize this conclave. He said that it was the need of the hour to sensitize the younger generations about this burning issue. Baba Seechewal said that it was good that newspapers were coming on forefront to highlight such issues.
Later thanking the dignitaries, Editor of Uttam Hindu Mr. Irwin Khanna also underscored the need for having a clean, green and pollution free state. He said that Uttam Hindu group was indebted to every person who played a key role in making this event a huge success.
Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included MLAs Mr Pargat Singh, Mr Ramanjit Singh Sikki and Mr Angad Singh, Editor in Chief of Dainik Savera Mr Sheetal Vij, Executive Editors of Uttam Hindu Mr. Puneet Khanna and Mr Ritin Khanna, General Secretary of Punjab Congress Mr Rajinder Pal Singh Randhawa and others.