Rampant Nitrogen Pollution Playing havoc for Farming ,Punjab worse hit
AMRITSAR :The experts converging here at the day-long seminar on `The Scourge of Nitrogen Pollution in India’ today delved deep into the crises of growing nitrogen pollution which is playing havoc with the farming lands in the country and how the Punjab is worst hit.
The seminar was organized by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in collaboration of Khalsa College Amritsar and Down to Earth magazine.The key focus of the deliberations was to draw attention to the growing problem of nitrogen pollution in the country.
The Rampant use of nitrate fertilisers in the agriculture to get higher yields has led to the menace which is growing dangerously, said experts. They stated that this is resulting into severe contamination of water and soil, leading to health problems for the humans and animals too.
There were two panel discussions one on the magazine’s cover story on nitrogen pollution, and the other on the challenges and opportunities faced by media, especially the regional and vernacular media, in covering environment as a subject.
Souparno Banerjee, program director, CSE, Down to Earth, managing editor Richard Mahapatra spoke in detail about the rising crises and the mindless use of the nitrogen which is having dangerous impact on human health.
Dilbir foundation Chief and Khalsa College Governing Council finance secretary Gunbir Singh and farm secretary Rajbir Singh said that Punjab has paid a heavy price for the food security of the country.
“We have poisoned our soil, over exploited the underground water which is turning the fertile land into barren patches. This is all for securing the food security for the nation. But when the soil is polluted the farming is in crises, the country seems not standing with our farmers and they are being left to fend for themselves’’, rued Gunbir Singh.
Rajbir also expressed similar views as he highlighted the pollution challenges. KCA Principal Dr. Mehal Singh said that the problem associated with the excessive use of the urea by the farmers is immense and there is need of the concerted efforts to create awareness campaigns to stop farmers from over-using of the fertilizers, he said.
