Despite Supreme Court rap, Punjab yet to turn up heat on farmers burning stubble

The state government is yet to come up with strict measures to prevent farm fires this year even as the ban on the practice has been violated at multiple places across Punjab with the beginning of the paddy harvesting season.

This comes even as the Supreme Court has pulled up the state government, asking why some errant farmers shouldn’t be arrested for the practice, considered as a key contributor to the winter pollution in northern India, especially Delhi and around it.

Farm unions have opposed any action against farmers, including the registration of cases, while alleging that the government has failed to provide adequate support for stubble residue management.

So far, the state has witnessed 56 stubble burning incidents, most in Amritsar, according to the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre at Ludhiana’s Punjab Agricultural University (PAU).

The authorities have registered 13 FIRs including Section 223 (disobedience to orders promulgated by public servants) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which attracts a maximum jail term of six months with a fine of Rs 2,500.

However, official sources said the government was “going soft” as of now, largely restricting itself to only making “red entries” in revenue records against the farmers indulging in the practice.

A red entry leads to the identification of the farmer involved in the violation. Last year, the government had denied the renewal and issue of arms to the violators.

The order was withdrawn later, necessitating its re-issue this year. “Last year these orders were there, but were withdrawn later and nothing new has been issued in this regard as for now,” said a deputy commissioner.

Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a central body tasked with addressing air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighbouring areas, has called for a joint meeting of states on September 25 to discuss in detail the issue and the roadmap to prevent farm fires this season.

Lavneet Dubey, Member Secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board, said the whole record and action taken report would be submitted during the meeting. “Red entries have been made while local administration will decide on other punitive actions to prevent field fires,” he said.

Reacting to it, farm unions have opposed any punitive action against farmers .“Farmers are forced to burn stubble as the government has failed to provide them needed support for crop residue management. We will oppose any action against farmers, including red entries or the registration of FIRs,” a farm leader said.