DC: No stubble burning case reported in Fatehgarh Sahib

Deputy Commissioner Sona Thind has said no case of stubble burning had been reported in the district so far. “Five suspected cases were detected by satellite and after verification by PPCC officials these were found to be fires in a dump and cremation ground,” the DC told The Tribune at Halwara Kalan village in Khamano block.

The DC, along with Shinaaz Mittal, Deputy Registrar of Cooperative Societies, had come to the village to interact with farmers and to motivate them against stubble burning, besides cooperating with the administration in making the historic district free of stubble fires.

The Hawara Kalan Agricultural Cooperative Society had organised a live demonstration of stubble management through the bail making process with the use of baler and rake.

Addressing the gathering, the DC emphasised the critical importance of environmental preservation and effective paddy stubble management.

She visited the fields and monitored the use of baler and rake. The functionality of the implements was demonstrated to the farmers, showcasing their effectiveness in post-harvest straw management.

The DC said the cooperative society had an ex-situ implements’ setup, which include a baler and a rake, besides a tractor under an 80 per cent subsidy scheme of the Punjab Government for paddy stubble management.

She assured the farmers of the administration’s unwavering support in managing paddy straw this season. She underscored the detrimental impact of stubble burning not only on environment but also on soil fertility, which ultimately jeopardised sustainable agricultural practices.

Shinaaz Mittal elaborated on the repercussions of straw burning, noting that farmers and their families bear the brunt of its adverse effects. She urged farmers to use these new implements as an investment in the future, promising cleaner air, water and soil for generations to come.