Punjab, India’s bread-basket, is facing an ecological disaster due to overuse of pesticides and chemical fertilisers in the soil, according to the Environmental group, EcoSikh.

Expressing concern over the over the overuse of chemicals and fertilisers in Punjab, Dr Rajwant Singh, president of EcoSikh said, “Punjab is facing an ecological disaster due to overuse of pesticides and chemical fertilisers in the soil. Punjab’s rivers and ground water are no longer safe for human consumption.”

EcoSikh is a seven-year-old environmental group working on climate change and ecological issues on behalf of the Sikhs in Punjab and around the world.

“All Punjabis are facing serious health challenges. Cancer is on the rise and it is critical that all Punjabis, and particularly Sikhs, make the environment a top priority,” Singh said at EcoSikh gala.

“Climate Change is the single most catastrophic threat facing the entire world and yet we do not see it. People are not taking it seriously but is happening,” said Hardeep Walia, CEO of the Motif Investigating said in a statement.

“It is essential that we take this seriously and support organisations like EcoSikh. Environmental teachings are a central part of the faith and we ought to be part of this effort,” said Walia who has recently been approached by Wall Street Banks and investment firms to create a climate hedge fund.

“Guru Nanak years ago gave us all a message to be conscious of nature and to honor our coexistence with it. Every person needs to have the sensitivity to keep their surroundings healthy because it ultimately affects both our inner and outer health,” he said.

Decades of overuse of pesticides in Punjab is suspected to be the cause of a slew of illnesses, from cancers to birth defects. Excessive use of fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides that have resulted in a slow accumulation of toxins within the water, soil, food and ultimately people, of the region, according to experts.

EcoSikh which was founded in 2009 in collaboration with United Nations and Alliance of Religions and Conservation (ARC) has popularized the idea of Sikh Environment Day, celebrated on March 14.

Last year, 3500 Gurdwaras, schools and colleges across the world celebrated this day with a “green Diwan”, focused on teachings about nature in the Sikh Holy Book or Guru Granth Sahib.

The warning by EcoSikh follows several news reports India about the potential ground water disaster in Punjab.

Large areas in the state are staring at low water availability that has the potential of damaging the state's agrarian livelihood in the coming years.

"Punjab, the land of five rivers, is staring at a dark future on the water front. The ground water level is fast depleting. Tubewells are being bored at between 300 and 400 feet. Every year, the level goes down by 10 feet. The situation is very alarming," farmer Kartar Singh of Bhogpur near Jalandhar told IANS.

With the state ready to go to the polls in the next 10 months (February 2017), the government of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal is all set to sanction another 250,000 tubewell connections to add to the existing over 1.3 million connections.