Environment as Assembly poll issue

Alliance formed to push environment as Assembly poll issue
Shivani Bhakoo
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 27
During a two-day meeting held by representatives of several environmental organisations in the city, it was unanimously decided to form an alliance to bring environmental health and ecological crisis of Punjab into sharp focus in the context of the upcoming Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections.
The representatives formed "Vatavaran Ate Samaj Bachao Morcha, Punjab", the next meeting of which will be held at Amritsar on December 14 to chalk out the action plan for the elections.
Environmentalists from over 40 organisations, who gathered on a common platform for two days, were of the opinion that there was a significant scientific evidence available which showed beyond doubt that the environment related to soil, water and air had been grossly polluted with highly poisonous/toxic substances. These substances had already reached the food chain and human bodies. Their levels in human and animal tissues were high enough to disturb their physiology and cause and contribute to various diseases and premature deaths.
The participants deliberated that the state of Punjab was reeling under severe economic, social, ecological and political crises. Natural resources, in general, and water and soil, in particular, were depleting because of unsustainable model of agriculture and development.
"Natural resources, government institutions, economy, health and education have all been put on sale to the super rich/corporate sector for earning super profits. Multiple types of environmental toxicity is playing havoc with delicate ecological balance. The whole crisis is due to wrong government policies at the Centre and state level," said Giani Kewal Singh.
Umendra Dutt from the Kheti Virasat Mission said that Punjab was sitting on a volcano of environmental health crisis, which was affecting not only human beings but all living species. "We are neck deep in toxic environment. The effects of this chronic poisoning on human health are not being taken note of by medical profession, health department and governments. The impact on animal and plant health is not being given the urgently needed attention by the departments concerned," said Dutt.
Members said there was an urgent need that all organisations of the working people, youth, students, writers, scientists
and intellectuals, including all political parties, should rise to the occasion and come up with their visions on pro-people socio-political agenda in which the issue of saving natural resources, environment and agriculture should be at the forefront.
Convened by Kheti Virasat Mission, meeting was joined by several eminent social, political and religious personalities like Baba Balbeer Singh Seechewal, Gian Kewal Singh (ex Jathedar Takhat Sri Dam Dama Sahib), Jagdev Singh Jassowal, Dr GPI Singh (Director, Adesh Medical College Bathinda), Dr Amar Singh Azad, Sukhdev Singh Bhopal (Nature Human Centric Peoples' Movement), Karnail Singh Jakhepal (IDP - Internationalist Democratic Party), Prof Jagmohan Singh, Surjeet Singh Phul (Krantikari Kisan Union), Malvinder Malli, Charan Singh Gill (UCPI), Dr Harminder Singh Sidhu (Raikot - Gadri Baba Dulla Singh Foundation).
Umendra Dutt
Executive Director
KHETI VIRASAT MISSION
JAITU-151202
District-Faridkot,Punjab
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