Despite order, paddy sowing goes on

Sukhmeet Bhasin/Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Bathinda/Malout June 15

Transplantation of paddy is going on in the district even as the Punjab Government has imposed a ban on doing so before June 20.  The notification issued by state government under the Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Water Act, 2009, has fixed May 20 for sowing paddy nursery and June 20 for transplantation of the crop in the fields each year. 

It is the third time when the government has issued a notification, making paddy transplantation before the prescribed date illegal.

It was stated at the time of issuing the notification that a five-day delay would help save enough water to meet all requirements of the state (including domestic and industrial) for a certain period.

The farmers claimed that the reason behind the early transplantation of paddy was shortage of labour as the number of migrant labourers from Bihar, UP and other states, coming to the state during the paddy season, has declined. They are of the view that farmers will face shortage of labour this season too.

A Virk Kalan resident, on condition of anonymity, said he had started paddy transplantation before the date announced by the state government because after June 20, there would be an acute shortage of labour and wages would rise. 

“Since there will be a huge rush for transplanting paddy, it will be hard to find labour. So, it is better to do it now,” he said.

Sukhmander Singh, a farmer, said the delay in transplanting would bring more trouble as late transplantation would result in increased moisture content and it would make paddy virtually unsaleable. 

Officials of the Agriculture Department said it had come to their notice that early transplantation of paddy was going on in some villages and they would take action.

Practice on in Muktsar

Even as the state government has started taking action against farmers sowing paddy before the set date of June 20, the practice is rampant in Muktsar district.

Travel on any main road in the district and one finds labourers busy transplanting paddy in the fields.

A recent journey on the Malout-Abohar and Malout-Muktsar roads showed that a majority of farmers had sown the crop, not caring two hoots about the rules.

Some farmers said it was right time to sow the crop as after June 20, there will be acute shortage of labourers. 

“We are spending money from our own pockets to burn fuel and irrigate the fields. The labourers are now easily available, but in the next few days, there will be a problem. During the peak season, we have to go to railway stations of neighbouring towns to get labourers,” said some farmers sitting at Mallkatora village.

However, some farmers said the state government had given exemption to some villages due to waterlogging.

Notably, the district administration has served notices on a number of farmers in the recent past for sowing paddy in advance. The crop has been destroyed in some fields as well.

On the other hand, some farmers unions are lodging protest outside the PSPCL office demanding 16-hour power supply and permission to sow paddy before June 20. They have even taken out protest march in Muktsar town.

Baljinder Singh Brar, chief agriculture officer, Muktsar, said, “The state government has given exemption to 40 waterlogging-affected villages in the district to sow paddy one month prior to the set date. Besides, 22 villages have filed writ petitions in this regard and they have also got partial relief as of now.”

“I will check whether these villages where the farmers have sown paddy are exempted or not. As of now, we have issued notices to nearly 25 farmers,” he said.