Giving a boost to the efforts of Punjab Government and the environmentalists to safeguard the environment, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Wednesday 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 Gurdwaras, said that the preservation of clean and green environment was of foremost significance in view of celebrations of 550th prakash purb of Guru Nanak Dev in November this year.
SGPC’s additional secretary 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 urged the head granthis (chief priests) of all Gurdwaras to motivate farmers against stubble burning as this practice causes environmental and health hazard.
Pertinently, the state Agriculture secretary 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 had mentioned that the preservation of environment would be a befitting reverence to Guru Nanak Dev 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 Guru Nanak Dev, where millions of devotees would be reaching Punjab to pay their obeisance.
He pointed out that during the celebrations, the practice of stubble burning would leave an adverse affect on the environment thereby harming environment, human health and soil texture.