NGT goes strict on stubble burning

Gagandeep Singh

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 26

Although farmers are warned every season by the administration not to burn the crop residue after harvesting, the same practice goes unchecked each time. Observing the scenario, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued strict instructions to minimise the practice of crop residue burning.

Officials from the Agriculture Department said the NGT had issued strict directions to tackle the menace. “The Punjab Pollution Control Board has been asked to fine the farmers indulged in wheat or paddy stubble burning. Apart from this, the NGT has also instructed to stop providing subsidy benefits to the farmers who indulge in residue burning,” said Naresh Gulati from the District Agriculture Department.

He said, “Since the Agriculture Department has no authority to take action against farmers, we have been educating farmers about the disadvantages of residue burning. We have been conducting camps to make farmers aware about using the alternative equipment to deal with stubble without burning them. Several farmers have already quit the practice in the region.”

On the other hand, farmers demand some sort of optimum alternative. A farmer from Tut Kalan village, Joga Singh, said the farming equipment which deal with wheat or paddy stubble were expensive which could not be afforded by small farmers.

He said farmers needed to do away with residue immediately after harvesting to prepare the field for next crop. Finding no other way, farmers just burn the residue, although they do want quit the practice, he added.