Expert for innovation in paddy straw management

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 17

“There is a need to come up with a new technology for Punjab and Haryana farmers to help them manage their paddy straw so that air pollution can be curbed,” said Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi. She visited Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) to deliver Sardar Jaswant Singh Rai Memorial lecture on Conflict of Interest: Challenges and Solutions for a Greener Tomorrow.

Elaborating further, she said, “Every year, farmers of Punjab and Haryana are blamed for increase in the pollution level in the national capital during winters. However, Delhi’s pollution problem is a result of its own reasons.”

The talk about air pollution should not only be restricted to a particular weather. Talking about cleaning waters of Punjab, the Padma Shri awadree, said, “The state had a culture of creating ponds at various places. This is an example to save water. The rivers have now been reduced to nallahs (open drains). We are destroying our rivers. We are damaging them because of poor sanitation.”

She also discussed with farmers of Punjab and addressed their issues. She said, “Climate change is changing the cost of agriculture. There is a need to bring a reinvention of some sort.”

In her more than thirty-minute talk on climate change and pollution, she focused on various aspects of environment changes, rising air pollution levels in the past years and the innovation in vehicular technology to curb air pollution. “The city is not only for the rich or poor. Pollution knows no boundaries. To make the city more livable we have to work for both the categories. If we plan only for rich we are losing the battle against air pollution. Hence, there is a need to strike a balance between both. There is a need to connect,” she added

Dean Academic Welfare, Prof Kamaljeet Singh, GNDU in his presidential address highlighted the initiatives taken by the university in making sustainable environment in the university. Prof Avinash Nagpal presented the vote of thanks on the occasion.

Deputy coordinator Dr Jatinder Kaur hosted the programme. Members of the faculty, including Prof Satwinderjit Kaur, Dr Amarjeet Singh Soodan, Dr Adarsh Pal Vig, Dr Kirandeep Dhami and Dr Jaswinder Singh Bilga were also present.