Chandigarh, September 4
The Punjab government has not only been causing economic loss to the state, but also causing degradation of soil by way of effecting nutrient imbalance, depleting underground water table and abusing pesticides and fertilisers leading to several environmental and health hazards. The result of government policies is that the state is facing “ecological backlash”.

A report, State of Environment Punjab-2007, prepared by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology, prepared with the support of senior officers, will open eyes and ears of the decision makers, it remains to be seen.

The most favourite subject of the Badal government is free power to the agriculture sector. The report chides the state government on this issue. It says “free electricity to farmers has resulted in excessive mining of ground water resources due to cultivation of water guzzler crops like paddy”.

The report further says, “Farmers use water irrationally, over-irrigate their crops and do not care for power economy (as they do not have to pay for it) by using cheap non-energy efficient, poor quality non-ISI mark motors”.

It mentions that the power supply to the agriculture sector was free during 1997-2002 (the SAD-BJP government). Again the state government has started providing free electricity to all farmers from September, 2005, thereby benefiting farmers to the tune of Rs 4,320 million. According to the PSEB, Punjab has purchased power worth Rs 51,600 million during 2002-2005 from other states. This is being purchased at nearly Rs 6 per unit but is provided free to farmers causing economic loss to the state.

Regarding subsoil water over-exploitation, the report says a high-cropping intensity has led to heavy requirement of water for irrigation purpose. There is a deficit of 1.25 mham of water which is met through over-exploitation of underground water. Of the total 137 blocks, 103 blocks, spread over 75 per cent area of the state, are overexploited.

Moreover, it has been estimated that rice under water in one hectare emits more than 0.45 tonnes of methane over a growing period of 90 days. In addition, carbon dioxide is emitted during this period. Most stunning comment in the report is: “Free electricity had made farmers subservient to government favours which has consequently resulted in loss of their spirit of enterprise”.

Though the government is providing free power, the report says: “Agriculture began to show signs of sluggish growth. Productivity slowed down and stagnation set in. It has now been recognised that the green revolution, which helped Punjab to make a breakthrough in crop production, is not at all that green. The present cropping pattern and production system seem to be environmentally unsustainable and economically unviable”.

Punjab produces 23 million tonnes of paddy straw per annum. More than 80 per cent straw is burnt in fields every year. Apart from affecting the soil fertility, this also caused air pollution to emission of gases like CH4, CO, thus leading to various health hazards.