DC urges farmers to not burn paddy stubble

Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori today visited the villages of Bandala and Taragarh of Jandiala Guru as part of the administration’s inspection and site visit to manage the crop stubble without setting it on fire as the paddy season approaches. He was accompanied by Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural) Charanjit Singh, Deputy Director, Agriculture, Yudhbir Singh and SDO of Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB).

Thori held an open discussion with the farmers of villages where incidents of stubble-burning were reported last year and listened to their problems. Giving instructions to the departments concerned to solve the problems of farmers on the spot, he also laid stress on how cooperation of farmers is important for stubble management. “The district administration will fully support the farmers in managing stubble with both in-situ and ex-situ techniques. The necessary machinery for baler and in-situ will be made available in time to manage stubble through ex-situ method,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner said that this time, the farmers should sow wheat with surface seeder in an area of 25 to 30 acres as a demonstration. He said that the disposal of straw can be done easily by using new technologies. “By adopting healthier ways to manage stubble, we make the fields free from waste, but by polluting the environment, we make ourselves and our families victims of many diseases,” he said. SSP (Rural) Charanjit Singh said that last year, the Supreme Court had declared that the head of police station of the area where stubble-burning or farm fires are reported will be held responsible for the lapses. He said that if any farmer violates the orders of the Supreme Court, an FIR will also be registered against him.

Meanwhile, Clean Air Punjab in collaboration with the district administration and Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) has been holding awareness campaigns against stubble-burning as the paddy season approaches. Despite all efforts, cases of paddy burning were reported in large numbers last year and added to the already critical level of air pollutants.