17 farmers booked, two arrested

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 6

Tightening the noose around those indulging in stubble burning, the Amritsar rural police here today booked as many as 17 farmers in 27 separate cases registered during the past 24 hours.

Two of them, identified as Baljinder Singh of Kamboh, and Lakhbir Singh of Rajasansi, were arrested by the police.

Till now the district administration was drawing flak for its half-hearted approach while instances of stubble burning continued to hit media headlines.

The massive air pollution and smog in the National Capital was also blamed on the neighbouring states, including Punjab and Haryana, as farmers were burning paddy stubble, an easy alternative of clearing the field before sowing the next wheat crop.

Burning the crop residue has become a major environmental issue in the past couple of decades.

The air pollution level has reached alarming proportions thus posing a great risk to health of the people. The practice also badly affects soil nutrients. The thick smoke rising from burning of the crop residue also hits commuters on main roads.

Launching a drive against offenders, police teams in various parts of the rural belt registered cases against farmers in whose fields’ stubble was set ablaze. The crop residue was found burning in Tarsikka, Gaggar Bhana, Kartarpur, Ajaibwali, Kotla Tarkhana, Hamja, Lalka Nagar, Bandala, Bhandiar, Tog, Chauhan and Wadala Johal villages.

Those booked were identified as Jagroop Singh of Kartarpur, Hardyal Singh of Bhandiar, Makhan Singh of Nikka Rayya, Dalbir Singh of Baba Bakala, Amarjit Singh of Kuttiwal, Harpal Singh of Kherabad, Harhinder Singh of Bal Khurd, Hardeep Singh of Sohian Khurd, Parveen Kumar of Bhangali Kalan, Baldev Singh of Chabba, Rawel Singh of Bhindi Aulakh, Jasbir Singh of Gharinda, Baljir Singh of Chaugwan, Surta Singh of Kakkar Kalan and Yudhbir Singh of Khiala Kalan village.

All were booked under Section 188 of the IPC for violating Section 144 of the CrPC imposed by Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam against stubble burning.