Balbir Singh Seechewal
 |
Balbir Singh Seechewal | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 2 February 1962 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | River conservationist |
| Known for | Community-based conservation |
Balbir Singh Seechewal (born 2 February 1962) is a Nirmala Sikh who spearheaded an anti-river pollution campaign in Punjab, India. By combining his assiduously cultivated self-help philosophy with the environmental essence of the Gurbani, he has resurrected the 110-miles long Kali Bein rivulet.[1] He received Indian civilian award Padmashri in 2017.[2] He is also known as Eco Baba.[3][4]
In his latest project in early 2009, taking up the cudgels to save Buddha Nullah, Seechewal has initiated a campaign for generating awareness amongst different sections of the society to solve the problem of desilting the water body following the failure of the Punjab Pollution Control Board's (PPCB) and industries in complying with the High Court's orders in this regard.
He single-handedly cleaned and restored Kali Bein river[citation needed], a 160 km long tributary of Beas in Doaba region of Punjab. Seechewal says that when he started the water-cleaning project of Kali Bein in 2007, it was a challenging task. But, as people became aware of its importance, they joined in cleaning the rivulet, which had become a dried-up drain and had been reduced to a garbage dump with its historic and religious significance long forgotten.
Life
He was born in a Sikh, agricultural family in Seechewal in Jalandhar district in Punjab, India to Chanan Singh and Chanan Kaur.[5] He studied at DAV College, Nakodar. He put on saffron robes in 1981 after dropping out of college.
He was twice a sarpanch of Seechewal.
Awards and honors
Balbir Singh Seechewal (left) receiving Padma Shri award from the President of India Pranab Mukherjee (right) on 30 March 2017.[6]
- Hero of Environment by TIME magazine
References
- ^ Singh, Madhur (24 September 2008). "Balbir Singh Seechewal – Heroes of the Environment 2008 – TIME". Content.time.com. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "Punjab's green crusader: Punjab's green crusader Balbir Singh Seechewal gets Padma Shri | Chandigarh News". The Times of India. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ Poulomi Das (11 April 2016). "Meet Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, the baba who single-handedly cleaned a 160-km long river in Punjab | Business Insider India". Businessinsider.in. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "Seechewal model for clean Ganga". Tribuneindia.com. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "Environmentalist Baba Seechewal gets Padma Shri". The Indian Express. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
- ^ "'Eco Baba' Seechewal wins Padma Shri | india-news | videos". Hindustan Times. 28 January 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
External links
- Heroes of the Environment 2008
- Nirmal Kuteya Ek Onkar Charitable Trust set up by Seechwal