Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh today said that the vision of a clean, green and environmentally sustainable Patiala can only be achieved through active public participation. He said the Punjab Government is making continuous efforts to improve the city’s environment, but the cooperation of citizens and voluntary organisations is equally essential.
The Health Minister was addressing volunteers after visiting the Butterfly and Herbal Park at the Environment Park, where he planted a sapling and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the ‘Mera Patiala Main Hi Savaaran’ campaign in developing and maintaining the park.
Commending the volunteers, Dr. Balbir Singh said that while government officials perform their duties as part of their responsibility, the members of Mera Patiala Main Hi Savaaran are working with passion and selfless commitment for the welfare of the city. He described their efforts as an inspiring example of community ownership and public participation in environmental conservation.
He appealed to other NGOs and social organisations to join same campaign in larger numbers. The Minister said the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has launched the Clean Punjab Project with the objective of improving sanitation, protecting natural resources and creating more green spaces.
He said the cleaning of Chhoti Nadi has already been completed, while work on Badi Nadi is progressing rapidly. Sharing the Government’s future plans, Dr. Balbir Singh announced that a five-kilometre Biodiversity Park will be developed along Badi Nadi from Daulatpur to Dakala Road.
He further said that two parks will be developed on both sides of Chhoti Nadi, while another environment park will be established along the Sirhind road bypass. He added that efforts will also be made to extend the green belt up to Nabha Road.
The Health Minister directed Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Simarpreet Kaur, and Divisional Forest Officer Satinder Singh to ensure that no flex boards or other materials that spoil the beauty of parks are permitted inside the Environment Park or at other important public places in the city.
Appealing to students and youth to become ambassadors of environmental protection, Dr. Balbir Singh urged them to plant and adopt trees and spread awareness about cleanliness and waste management. He said every citizen should resolve to make Patiala the cleanest city through collective action.
Welcoming the Health Minister, Mera Patiala Main Hi Savaaran member H.S. Lamba said the organisation is working to educate citizens about scientific waste management and source segregation. He informed that a four-colour dustbin system has been implemented at the Butterfly and Herbal Park and volunteers are regularly creating awareness among visitors regarding proper disposal of waste.
Additional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Simarpreet Kaur, Col. J.V. Singh, Col. Karminder Singh, Capt. Sukhjit Kaur, C.M. Kaura, Prof. Ashok Verma, Prof. R.K. Goyal, FIT India volunteers from NIS and SAI Patiala Gurpreet Phoolka, Rana Phoolka, Rajbir Grewal, Aman Grewal, Rakesh Kad, Gurpreet Dullat, Simran Harika, S.C. Makkar, Ashu Kathuria, Ritu Jain, Archana, Gyan, Jaswinder Singh, Manmohan Sharma, K.S. Sekhon, Abhishek Jain, Varun Malhotra and other volunteers were also present on the occasion.