As air quality in the city and adjoining areas continues to deteriorate due to stubble burning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his monthly radio programme Mann ki Baat on Sunday urged farmers to do away with the practice.
The Prime Minister made the request by sharing two anecdotes, one of a farmer, Gurucharan Singh, who not only gave up the practice but also urged his relatives to do so for the welfare of the society.
He then gave an instance of a village in Punjab, named Kalal Majra, which opted for mixing it in the soil using alternative technology, instead of burning the paddy straw.
Prime Minister Modi further applauded those working for the betterment of the society and a cleaner environment. “My best wishes to all the people who are trying their best to keep the environment clean. You are taking forward the legacy of our Indian culture of leading a healthy lifestyle. Even the smallest steps can make a huge difference,” added the Prime Minister.
He also laid special emphasis on environmental conservation and the environmental problems faced by people around the world.
As a solution to environmental problems, Prime Minister Modi gave an example of tribal communities and how they have peacefully co-existed with nature. “We should learn from their culture and tradition and include it in our practices to build a more sustainable developed society,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi praised the Bishnoi tribe in Rajasthan, Warli/Varli tribe from Maharashtra, Naga tribe and several others for their contribution towards conservation of the environment.
Over the past few years, stubble burning from Punjab and Haryana has become a major contributor to air pollution in the capital. Despite the ban on stubble burning, farmers continue to burn paddy straw claiming that they lack feasible alternatives.
