Jalandhar, May 27 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday gave clarion call for launching a mass movement to save water and environment in the state.
The Chief Minister, who was here to participate in a function to mark 34th death anniversary of Sant Avtar Singh, expressed deep concern over the depleting groundwater table and polluting environment in the state.
He said immediate remedial steps are required to save the only precious and scarce natural resource of Punjab viz the water and check environmental pollution.
Mann said this cannot be done by the government alone but people's participation is must by launching a vigorous mass awareness campaign to sensitise them about its significance especially in the wake of global warming.
Showing concern over the gravity of emerging situation following the fast depleting water table, the Chief Minister said almost all blocks in the state are in dark zone as far as the groundwater is concerned.
Mann said it is really pathetic to learn that the same high powered motors that are used to extract oil in Dubai and other Arab nations are being used for gushing out groundwater in the state. He said reckless trend needs to be checked immediately so that the future generations do not have to strive for water.
The Chief Minister further said, on its part the state government is trying to ensure optimum utilisation of surface water in the state for reducing pressure on groundwater.
Likewise, he said that this year the government has incentivised direct sowing of rice (DSR) and 20 lakh acres are expected to be cultivated under it, which will save the water.
On an issue flagged by Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, Mann said that he would raise the matter related to desilting of the Gidderpindi railway bridge with the Railways Minister.
He said the deposit of silt under the bridge has been creating havoc with life and property of people by flooding the region after short span.
Lauding the marvellous services rendered by Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, the Chief Minister said he had ushered a new revolution for saving the environment through his dedication and commitment.
He said that the life of Sant Seechewal will remain inspiration for all.
Based on a specific information about the presence of four suspicious persons in Ahmedabad, a team was formed under Deputy Superintendent of Police, Kanubhai Patel, which detained the four persons from the Sardarnagar area on the evening of May 12.
Furnishing details, Deputy Commissioner of Police (north), Sagar Singh Kalsi, said some complaints were received on the MHA's Cyber Crime Portal regarding extortion by fake Crime Branch and YouTube officials on the pretext of lodging police complaints over obscene videos of victims and uploading of the same on YouTube.
As many as 61 complainants listed their grievances before the Chief Minister during the 'Lok Milni'. He directed top officers present on the occasion to ensure immediate resolution of these complaints in a time-bound and result-oriented manner.
As per visuals released from the spot, thick fumes of black smoke along with a massive blaze could be seen billowing out of the ill-fated three-storey building. The firemen used the fire truck ladder to reach out to the maximum possible height to spray water over the blaze.
A 35-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly duping over 100 women on the pretext of marriage, an official said here on Friday. The accused, who has been identified as Farhan Taseer Khan, is himself married and stayed in a rented accomodation in Delhi.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday dismissed its four Sub-Inspectors after placing them under arrest for demanding Rs 25 lakh bribe from a businessman in Chandigarh threatening him of implication in a terror case. The accused officials were identified as Sumit Gupta, Pardeep Rana, Ankur Kumar, Akash Ahlawat, all posted in Delhi office.
