Appropriate post sought for Kahan Singh Pannu after retirement

Lovleen Bains
Doraha/Sahnewal, August 26

Environmentalists, educationists, economists, agriculture experts and farmer unions have demanded an appropriate post for Kahan Singh Pannu, Secretary, Agriculture; Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration; and Mission Director, Tandarust Punjab, who is retiring on August 31. They want him to continue his services for the state.

Nodal officer, Crop Residue Management for Agriculture, Punjab-cum-officiating joint director, Agricultural Engineering, Manmohan Kalia said: “None can replace Pannu. He is simply exemplary. He should be retained so that he can continue his reforms. His dedication towards work, especially for agricultural technology, motivation for officials and his steering capability for getting works done in a time-bound manner are incomparable. The Golden Temple Street, Amritsar, was declared as the state’s first clean street food hub by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, and its credit goes to Pannu. The state also bagged the ‘Certificate of Achievement’ on World Food Safety Day due to his efforts.”

Dr Sarabjeet Singh, professor, Department of Agri Journalism, Punjab Agriculture University, said: “KS Pannu is a soldier who is never off duty. It is his vision, way of working and refusal to succumb to political pressure that has enabled the state to be recognised at the global level. In his case, there can be simply no compromise with quality and to ensure the same, he can go to any extent. The tireless efforts of Pannu in battling corruption, adulteration and environment degradation are simply incomparable.”

President, Borlaug Farmers’ Association for South Asia and member, Bureau of Indian Standards Pavittar Pal Singh Pangli while lauding the services rendered by the Agriculture Secretary expressed that he had tried to practically resolve the problem of environmental degradation and a fast-receding water table.

“Steps taken by him towards these issues were worth appreciating. The number of paddy straw burning incidents are fast decreasing and the credit for the same goes to Pannu. We earnestly desire that he continues to serve the state in any official capacity,” Pangli said.

General secretary, Punjab Chemist Association, Gurbaksh Singh Chawla, said: “None before Pannu was seriously concerned about the sale and supply of drugs which were done without any fear or fret but the moment he issued instructions to drug inspectors to practically check the sale and supply of drugs, a sea change was witnessed. One person can make many changes, if he wants. Pannu should be assigned a good post as he is our necessity.”

“If KS Pannu continues in some good position, Punjab will become the most prosperous state. His untiring efforts in checking adulteration of food, milk products, including khoya, paneer and desi ghee, curbing the use of oxytocin injections, checking the sale of spurious crop fertilisers and adulteration of milk products and sellers in the state have restored our faith in law,” said Jandeep Kaushal, president, Chemists’ Association, Doraha.

General Secretary of the Bhartiya Kisan Union Harinder Singh Lakhowal said Pannu was a ray of hope for the “sinking boat” of Punjab.