AAP govt stands with farmers: CM Mann

Reiterating firm commitment of the state government to save the groundwater of the state for coming generations, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday announced to start zone wise cultivation of the paddy from June 1.

- BUREAU

"We have divided the state into three zones and the cultivation of paddy will start in the district falling in three zones On June 1, June 5 and June 9", said the Chief Minister while addressing the gathering during Sarkar Kisaan Milni here today.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab is the food bowl of the country as it contributes 45% of grains in the national food pool. However, he bemoaned that in 70 days of paddy season Punjab pumps out water equal to nine Gobind Sagar lakes, which is a huge quantity. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that by pumping out so much water we will deprive our coming generations from water which is the basic ingredient of our existence.

Citing an example, the Chief Minister said that 4000 litre of water is required for producing one kilo paddy so it is posing a serious threat to the basic existence of our coming generations, due to which the state government is making concerted efforts to save it. He said that cultivation of paddy in the state has increased from 20 lakh hectares to 32 lakh hectares due to which the need for water to irrigate the fields has also increased. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to strenuous efforts of the state government the ground water level has started increasing and as per a report of the Union government it has witnessed an upward enhancement of one metre.