Air Pollution an issue of Concern,ASSOCHAM to work on it
Patiala- Minister for Family Welfare and Health, Government of Punjab, Brahm Mohindra today stated that the Chief Minister Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh was the savior of farmers in true sense. The Chief Minister has raised demand with the Prime Minister seeking Rs 685 cr compensation for the farmers to pull them out of the problem of setting paddy stubble on fire. With the Rs 685 cr package sought, lot of problems of the farming sector are expected to get redressed, Brahm Mohindra said at an ASSOCHAM-Reckitt Benckiser joint event held in Patiala today. The Punjab farmers have sacrificed themselves for the betterment of nation and have paid a huge price for feeding nation, He said.
“Considering the gravity of this issue, Punjab Chief Minister took it up with Government of India and also discussed with the Prime Minister about ill effects of air pollution caused by straw burning in the state which has highest contribution in nation’s food bowl,” said Mohindra while launching an ASSOCHAM-Reckitt Benckiser awareness program on air pollution in Punjab. The Punjab Health Minister lauded the efforts of the CM and said that he is both the well-wisher and saviour of Punjab and its farmers.
Recalling once how when he went to a local village in his constituency in the evening, Mohindra said he saw just smog and pollution all around with people from all age groups coughing and suffering from chest infections.
“I interacted with a group of village elders sitting under a tree and told them that this is why I used to request you for stop burning crop residue and now you can see everyone is coughing around and suffering from chest ailments, thus it is we who are responsible for this problem and it is only we who have to find a solution to improve the situation,” he said.
Earlier, in his address at the ASSOCHAM conference, state Health Minister said that to combat the problem of paddy burning, the state of Punjab came up with the method of attaching the super straw management system (SMS) to every self-propelled combined harvester.
“The super straw management system will replant the leftover straw into the soil (in-situ), which also has the additional benefit of improving soil’s quality, it will help us in two ways of preventing air pollution and improving soil,” he added.
He further said that Punjab cabinet has also approved the creation of Directorate of Environment to check air pollution which is also a very positive development.
“I am highly impressed and would congratulate ASSOCHAM for organising an event on issue of such grave importance, they must aggravate their efforts and help the Government in ensuring better air quality and good health for future generations of Punjab,” said Mohindra.
Speaking on the occasion, ASSOCHAM’s secretary general, D.S. Rawat said that ever rising air pollution levels are taking a toll on India’s urban economy and sectors like tourism, hospitality, outdoor recreation and others are worst affected.
“Crop residue burning being one of the prime reasons for growing air pollution in the region, it is the need of the hour to spread awareness about its health hazards and promote alternate solutions through co-operation and networking with peer groups, different agencies, organisations and individuals to improve ambient air quality,” he added.
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