DW BUREAU / Ludhiana, Punjab legislative Assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Friday honoured 700 farmers from six districts of the state for not burning paddy stubble and planting lakhs of saplings in their areas. Presiding over an event organized by Bhai Ghanaiya Cancer Roko Sewa Society, Gadri Baba Dulla Giani Nihal Singh Foundation in association with PAU, Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Forest departments, the Vidhan Sabha Speaker said that these 700 farmers had emerged as warriors against pollution and followed Guru Nanak's teachings in letter and spirit by not burning the residues. He said that shunning the stubble burning was a humble and befitting tribute to Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji who gave the message of Pawan Guru Pani Pita Mata Dharat Mahat. Sandhwan pointed out that the Punjab government had been making sincere efforts to control the menace but needed their full support to eliminate the menace completely. He also lauded the Ludhiana administration and farmers for a 55-percent decrease in cases of stubble burning cases and for contributing towards preserving precious natural resources by shunning the stubble burning. Punjab Speaker also disclosed that the AAP government has been on the job to make special policies for making agriculture a profitable profession. He said that the day was not far away when stubble burning and other maladies would not exist in Punjab. Meanwhile, Punjab Agriculture University Vice-Chancellor Dr Satbir Singh Gosal said that nearly 1000 BSC students of the varsity went to every nook and corner of the district during paddy harvesting season and sensitized the farmers about the harmful effects of stubble burning on the environment and health which yielded positive results. On this occasion, the President of Bhai Ghanhaia Cancer Roko Sewa Society, Faridkot Gurpreet Singh Chand Baja, welcomed the guests and expressed his concern about the environment of Punjab and said that the underground water in Punjab had left for about 16 years only. Forestry in Punjab has reduced from 33% to 3.67 % and due to the pollution, several health issues have been raised. He said that it was the primary duty of all of us to take care of the environment and contribute towards environment conservation. (editor@dailyworld.in)