Farm fire damages 30 trees, villagers livid

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 15

At a time when the state government has been repeatedly warning farmers against stubble-burning and launched a massive campaign to plant saplings to celebrate 550th Parkash Purb, stubble fire has burnt roadside trees at Kanoi village.

The former sarpanch of the village has submitted a complaint to Sangrur SDM in this regard.

Former Sarpanch Deep Singh said in his complaint that during his tenure as a sarpanch, they had planted saplings along roadside of a link road that connected the village with the Sangrur-Sunam road. He alleged that last evening, a few farmers burnt their paddy stubble that damaged 30 trees causing resentment among villagers.

“Since the planting of saplings, the villagers have been taking care. But the stubble fire has damaged 30 trees. I have submitted my complaint to the SDM seeking action against farmers,” said Deep Singh. A few other farmers standing near the burnt trees also demanded action.

“I am at a meeting. We will take action after going through the complaint,” said Babbandeep Singh Walia, SDM, Sangrur.

However, the BKU (Ugrahan) has announced to support farmers and oppose anyone who tries to take action.

“Farmers do not want to damage the environment, but they do not have any alternative. We will gherao officials if they try to take action against farmers for burning stubble. Farmers will stop burning stubble if the government starts giving us bonus to manage stubble without burning,” said Dharminder Pashore, block president, BKU (Ugrahan) Lehragaga.

Chief Agriculture Officer, Sangrur, Jaswinderpal Singh Grewal said he would send his teams.

“After collecting land details, we will take legal action,” he said.

Rally on October 18

Chandigarh: On the directives Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, students of government schools will participate in awareness rallies against the menace of stubble-burning. The students in rural areas will participate in the awareness rallies on October 18 to apprise farmers about the ill-effects of stubble-burning.