Khaps demand relief for stubble management

Chandigarh, November 18

Khap panchayats have sought compensation of Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 per acre for stubble management. They have also urged farmers to take steps for conservation of water and environment by judicious use of natural resources and planting more trees. Various khap representatives, who met in Jind district today, also urged farmers to grow alternative crops instead of wheat and paddy alone.

Tek Ram Kandela, national convener of khap panchayats and head of the Kandela Khap, said, “Environment pollution by burning of paddy straw is a big issue and needs to be addressed. Farmers do not want to burn stubble, but they do not have any alternative.” He said that the khap panchayats had written to the Prime Minister for separate budget for compensating farmers.

“The government also needs to divert farmers from the routine wheat-paddy crop cycle by providing subsidy on horticulture plants like guava, mangoes, papaya, lemons and berry, etc. This will not only provide solution to the problem of stubble burning, but will also help in conservation of water which has depleted to alarming levels in several areas of the state,” said Tek Ram Kandela. — TNS