Village pledges not to burn paddy straw

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 16

The farmers of Ambian Tohfa village in Jalandhar today took a pledge to save the environment by not burning the paddy straw and utilising it to enhance the soil health besides using it as fodder for the animals.

Apprising the Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma about the path-breaking initiative, the farmers, led by a retired officer of the Indian Economic Service, MS Virdi, said they were aware of the ill-effects of the burning of the paddy straw and the aim behind the move was to sensitise the people about this noble cause.

Lauding the efforts made by the Deputy Commissioner to make the people aware of the hazards of this practice, he said it was high time farmers shunned this unhealthy practice. Virdi said the farmers of the village had resolved firmly not to burn the paddy straw.

Deputy Commissioner Varinder Kumar Sharma, who had specially visited the village, while hailing the initiative of farmers, said the landholders from other villages should also replicate this. Sharma said the practice not only pollutes the environment but also has an an ill-effect on human health.