AMRITSAR: The head of the Nihang Singhs' apex organization, Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal, Jathedar Baba Balbir Singh Akali 96 Crore said that the three elements of air, water and earth in the natural environment are important for the life of humans, animals and plants. Without them, no kind of life is possible.
He said that these are the invaluable gifts of nature given to man. Man has badly polluted these valuable natural resources for economic growth and his desires. Sahib Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji gave these natural resources the same status as Guru, Father and Mother, Pawan Guru, water, father, mother, earth. Natural resources can only be maintained, not created. He said it is regrettable that most of the countries of the world including India have forgotten to conserve these natural resources.
He said that the President of India Draupadi Murmu and Supreme Court Justice Vikram Nath have expressed concern over the changing flow of the environment.
In a written press statement issued by Budha Dal Secretary Diljit Singh, the Nihang chief said that conservation of natural resources is necessary to save the earth from destruction. The economic development of plains and hilly areas should be according to the capacity of those areas. The state and central governments should be interested in nature-friendly development. Air pollution due to means of transport, construction work, burning of garbage heaps and crop residues, thermal plants, brick kilns, air conditioners, along with gases emitted from various sources are increasing the average temperature of the earth to an unprecedented extent.
He said that it is being said that by 2030, 40 percent of the country's population will not have drinking water. By 2050, 30 major cities of India will run out of water.
He said that for the sake of economic profit, four and six lane roads, ropeways, helipads, rail lines are being built by tampering with the mountains. Due to this, the Himalayan mountains are collapsing. Therefore, there should be nature-friendly economic development to save air, water and land. The Nihang chief said that the central government should ensure that 33 percent area is covered under forests, public transport is made effective, garbage dumps are handled scientifically and construction works are done carefully and minimum support price is given to crops.