Saturday, October 12, 2013

Burning of paddy straw is detrimental-Dr. Manoj Sobti

Sat, Oct 12, 2013 at 5:01 PM
We all have to realize our duty
Ludhiana 12 October 2013:(Rector Kathuria//Punjab Sacreen): The Indian Medical Association  (IMA) and Bharat Jan Gyan Vigyan Jatha (BJGVJ) have cautioned farmers against burning of paddy straw, which is detrimental both to our health and fertility of the soil.Addressing a press conference on the subject at the IMA House today Dr Manoj Sobti, President IMA Punjab said that as doctors we are much concerned about the issue as buring of paddy straw and wheat straw release smoke which is highly detrimental to our health. Both administration and the farmers have to realize their duty.  Speaking on the occasion Dr Karamveer Goyal, President IMA Ludhiana and Medical Specialist, cautioned the farmers that the smoke emitted as a result of burning of paddy straw or wheat straw could affect our respiratory system and thereby other systems of our body. Lung diseases and diseases of nose and throat get aggravated thus incapacitating the person. He reminded them of when on 12th October in 1998 smoke had engulfed almost whole of state of Punjab causing panic among the people.

Dr Arun Mitra – general Secretary of the BJGVJ said that the water vapours collect around the smoke particles suspended in the air which then forms smog. He reminded of the London Smog in 1950 in which 3500 people were killed.  Maximum permissible limit of the Respirable Suspended Particles (RSPM) in the atmosphere is 60ig/m3. But on Jagraon Bridge in Ludhiana it is invariably at 300 ig/m3. This further increases when  smoke from the paddy straw burning mixes with the air of the city.
Similarly the GM Crops which are being promoted in the name of High Yield Resistant to infections have to be seen with skepticism. Worldwide experience and researches have shown that the GM foods have detrimental effect on the health of the mice. It will be unwise to promote the GM crops without studying the impact on human health.  It has also been observed that if the GM food catches infection then they do not respond to ordinary drugs. Thus special drugs will have to be used by the farmers which would cost them heavily. This would only benefit the companies like Monsanto. 

Dr Rajinder Pal Singh Auluck Agriculture Development Officer warned the farmers that by burning paddy straw we destroy useful elements in the soil. Over one lac tones of nitrogen gets destroyed as a result. This causes loss of nitrogen over 100 Crores of rupees just in  Punjab. On the other hand if we dump the Parali in the soil  it turns in to healthy manure and adds to Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potash and other elements.  The concept of destroying crops residue has to change to that these are no more waste products but some thing that can be utilized for the better of productivity.

Major (Retd) Sher Singh Aulukh – President of the Jatha said that they would carry forward this message to people by holding such gatherings time to time in different parts of the district. He also appealed to the people to come forward against  increasing intoxication which is affecting the potential of our youth.

Sh.Maninder Singh Bhatia – Organising Secretary BJGVJ said that the organization has completed 21 years on 2nd October and we have been creating awareness on several issues related to environment since 1992.

Those who attended the press conference on behalf of the IMA included Kulwant Singh,  Dr Subhash Singla-Secretary,  Dr R K Sharma – President Elect. Those who attended the event on behalf of the Jatha include DR Gurpreet Rattan, Mrs Gurcharn Kocher, Shri I S Sodhi, Shri Krishan Lal Malik.

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