Tuesday, 19 July 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
The Panchayati Raj and Rural Works minister Satpal Maharaj told Panchayat representatives and personnel that the use of plastic and chemical fertilisers should be stopped completely. The minister said this in a one-day State-level orientation programme held on Monday for Panchayat representatives and personnel. The focus of the programme was the achievement of sustainable development goals by the Panchayats and bringing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development oriented agenda to the villages.
Presiding over the event, Maharaj stressed on the need for completely ending the use of plastics, adding that the cooperation of Panchayats is necessary for this. Stating that consumption of plastic also threatens the lives of cows and wild animals, he said that other options must be searched. He further said that the use of chemical fertilisers consistently damages the soil. Citing the example of Punjab, he said that chemical fertilisers had been used excessively in that State leading to a rise in the number of cancer cases. He stressed on the need to fully stop the use of chemical fertilisers in time to prevent such a situation. He said, “We should attempt to plant such trees at the Gram Sabha level which can facilitate more income in a short time. Trees of various species should be planted to boost water sources and maintain the fertility of the soil.The Panchayats can also undertake the task of making fibre from pirul (dry pine needles),” he said.
Maharaj further said that Union minister Giriraj Singh is also making consistent efforts to ascertain how unusable land can be utilised while also increasing the income of villages. The State government is also looking for alternatives under the leadership of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The minister further said that the government is going to use seed balls to mitigate the damage done to crops by wild animals. Fruit seeds will be placed in the seed balls which will be planted through different mediums. When the trees planted in such a way start bearing fruits, the wild animals will remain in the jungles instead of coming towards human habitations, he said.
The minister said that soon a large seminar will be organised in Haridwar to learn the views of experts and public representatives on strengthening the Panchayats, utilising unusable land and increasing the income of Panchayats among other pertinent issues. Block Pramukhs, district Panchayat heads, Panchayati Raj secretary Nitesh Jha, director Banshidhar Tiwari and others were also present during the orientation programme.
