Capt seeks Rs 100/qtl aid to curb stubble-burning

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 18

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sought Central help to curb stubble-burning and forthwith settlement of the outstanding food cash credit account.

Capt Amarinder also sought the Centre’s assistance to the state for the celebrations of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

Flagging the menace of stubble-burning, he made out a case for assistance of Rs 100 per quintal as compensation to farmers. 

The state had taken various measures to tackle the stubble-burning, but the Centre’s hand-holding was crucial, and much needed, he said.

A spokesperson for the state government quoted the Chief Minister as saying that the Prime Minister was sympathetic to the problems of farmers.

With regard to the outstanding Rs 31,000-crore food credit gap, Capt Amarinder pitched for its resettlement on the principle of “shared responsibilities” among stakeholders in procurement of foodgrains for the country.

Urging Modi’s intervention, Capt Amarinder apprised him of the issue being pending before the Union Finance Ministry on a reference received from the Food and Distribution Ministry.

He urged Modi to advise the Finance Ministry to reconsider and review conversion of Rs 31,000 crore as a long-term loan as it could not be solely attributed to the state government.

During the discussion, he reminded Modi of his assurance of the Centre’s assistance to the state government with regard to the proposed celebration of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. He sought direction to the Union Culture Ministry and National Implementation Committee to provide requisite support to make suitable arrangements for the event.

The National Implementation Committee had met last week under the chairmanship of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed the state government’s proposals of projects regarding the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak. The Culture Ministry was directed to coordinate with various ministries and departments relating to celebrations, which the Centre has decided to observe at global scale.

Capt Amarinder thanked Modi for the Central government’s decision not to disturb the 60:40 ratio of appointment of officers in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

Hits back at Sukhbir

New Delhi: Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday slammed SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Twitter over the latter’s tweet on stubble-burning. Sukhbir had claimed that the state government had failed to provide incentives to farmers to curb the practice. Capt Amarinder said the allegation was baseless and unfounded. The SAD chief had said the CM should first give a report on the utilisation of funds received from the Centre to manage paddy straw. TNS