Won’t let stubble burn, Rampura Phul village panchayat passes resolution

In a move that could set an example for the entire region, Balloh village, home to about 5,000 people and spread over 1,326 hectares in Rampura Phul subdivision, is taking serious steps to curb stubble burning.

The village panchayat, with support from Tarnjot Welfare Society, has decided to collect paddy stubble from fields instead of letting it go up in smoke. The panchayat has passed a resolution in this regard.

Under the leadership of Sarpanch Amarjit Kaur, a baler machine has been taken on rent to prepare stubble bales free of cost. Farmers can register with the panchayat or the welfare society for that facility.

Gurmeet Singh Mann, patron of the society, said if all farmers in the village refrained from burning stubble, the society would donate Rs 5 lakh to the panchayat for development projects.

The village’s efforts are not new. During the last sowing season, farmers who practised direct seeding of rice and avoided stubble burning were given Rs 500 per acre. Gram Sevak Paramjit Singh Bhullar said the panchayat had also been running other environmental projects, including plastic waste management, separate pits for dry and wet waste, Thapar-model ponds, mini-forests, and plantation in common areas.

With these steps, Balloh is gradually turning into a model village where environmental consciousness is no longer just a slogan but a daily practice. The village panchayat has also been commended for its good governance and recognised in the “best panchayat” category as well.