Office-bearers, activists roped in to help tackle burning of stubble

Our Correspondent

Mandi Ahmedgarh, Oct 17

Office-bearers and activists of various government and non-government organisations of the region have vowed to save the environment from degradation by persuading farmers of their respective areas not to burn paddy stubble.

The oath was taken in response to a call made by Ahmedgarh SDM Vikramjeet Singh Panthey and SDM Payal Sagar Setia during the meetings held at Ahmedgarh and Government Degree College Karamsar, respectively.

Tehsildar Pardeep Singh Bains, Tehsildar Bhupinder Singh, Naib Nirjeet Singh and Principal Jaswant Singh led the enthusiasts taking the oath on the occasion.

Officials led by Ahmedgarh SDM Vikramjeet Singh Panthey and Payal SDM Sagar Setia conducted orientation meetings with office bearers and activists of various organisations and asked them to help the administration practice zero tolerance towards environmental pollution by burning agricultural residue, including paddy stubble, during ensuing harvesting season.

Ahmedgarh SDM Vikramjeet Singh Panthey and SDM Sagar Setia said rank and file in the Revenue Department had been advised to ensure that facilities and benefits of policies and schemes launched for welfare of farmers are provided only to those cultivators who obey rules laid down for disposal of agricultural wastes including paddy stubble and straw.

“Besides advising concerned officials to take preventive and punitive steps in the matter we have also asked revenue officials to verify whether farmers seeking special facilities and concessions had burnt paddy stubble or managed it otherwise,” said Panthey. He called upon residents of various villages to report any violation to Block Development Project Officer, Agricultural Officer, assistant registrar cooperative societies and Naib Tehsildar of the concerned area.

SDM Payal Sagar Setia said nodal officers had been deployed at village level who will keep a close watch on any violation of the guidelines of the government on disposal of paddy straw and stubble. “Besides appointing nodal officers at village level, we have also roped in office bearers and activists of social and constitutional bodies to help the administration in preventing harmful effects of the malpractice of stubble burning.”