NRIs urged to grow trees on their land

Urging NRIs to develop forests on their agricultural land in Punjab, NRI Sabha vice-president Satnam Chana said this would help in maintaining an ecological balance and saving their properties from being usurped.

An event was held at the start of a two-day seminar on ‘Youth immigration trends, causes and its impact’ at NRI Sabha here. “While the area under forest cover should be 33 per cent, it is only 3.6 per cent in Punjab, which is far too low and can have serious consequences. Farmers cannot plant forests for they need dividend every six months to repay their loans. It is only the NRIs who can afford to continue with a plantation for five or more years,” Chana said.

NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal said he was telling every NRI visiting him not to sell off his land. “I tell them to continue to keep the land and plant trees on at least 1 acre of land. I believe that the NRIs will remain attached to Punjab only till the time they own a land in the state,” he said.

The list of speakers at the event included socio-political scientist from Panjab University Prof Ronki Ram, retired IAS officer Kahn S Pannu, professor of economics from Punjabi University Patiala Gian Singh and Prof Jagroop S Sekhon from Guru Nanak Dev University.

International experts, including former judge at Toronto Inderjit S Bal, journalist from Calgary Rishi Nagar, Jagjit Singh of Sikh Studies and Teachings in Brampton, Prof Mandeep Kaur from University of Victoria in Canada, Melbourne-based Punjabi writer Balwant Singh will be among the speakers.