CHANDIGARH: Boosting up the efforts of Punjab Government and environmentalists to safeguard the environment, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has also gave a clarion call to the state farmers to abstain from burning crop residue in open fields.
Acting on the request of Punjab Agriculture Department, the SGPC, in its letter to the Managers of Gurdwara Sahiban said that the preservation of clean and green environment was of foremost significance in view of celebrations of 550th Prakash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev ji in November this.
The Additional Secretary SGPC also instructed all the Managers that they should ensure strict compliance of directions against stubble burning on the agriculture lands owned by the Gurdwaras. The SGPC also stressed the head Granthis of all Gurdwaras to motivate farmers against stubble burning as this practice causes environmental and health hazard.
Pertinently, the Secretary Agriculture Kahan Singh Pannu had requested the SGPC to issue an advisory to Gurdwaras for ensuring zero stubble burning on lands owned by Gurdwaras besides appealing farmers not to burn crop residue in open fields. He mentioned that the preservation of environment would be a befitting reverence to Guru Nanak Dev ji on his 550th Prakash Purb who Himself propounded the message of preservation of natural resources.
Pannu stated that the Punjab Government and SGPC are holding mega celebrations to the mark the historic event of 550th Parkash Purb of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, where millions of devotees would be reaching Punjab to pay their obeisance. He pointed out that during Prakash Purab celebrations, the practice of stubble burning would leave an adverse affect on the environment thereby harming environment, human health and soil texture.