Farmers burning straw won’t get subsidy: Govt

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 2

The state government will stop giving out subsidies to farmers who burn crop residue, says a communication to all Chief Agricultural Officers.

With this, hundreds of farmers will not get financial benefit on seeds, fertilisers, agro-chemicals and implements.

In the September 29 communication, the office of the Director (Agriculture) sought names of farmers who will burn paddy and other crops between October 15 and November 10.

The Director (Agriculture) also asked all block-level offices and Agricultural Development Officers to compile a list of erring farmers by November 10 and not forward their names to the department for any scheme.

The communication reads, “For the past several years, farmers are being educated against burning paddy straw. Since the practice still continues, the government is considering leaving out erring farmers from receiving benefits of government schemes.”

In a separate communication to the Special Chief Secretary (Revenue), Principal Secretary (Science and Technology) Roshan Sankaria sought that patwaris be directed to mark the land records of farmers with red ink if they are found burning stubble. It would be written in the land records that the farmer had burnt paddy stubble.

Sankaria wrote, “During the paddy harvesting season, a huge volume of straw is generated. Out of that, 75 per cent is burnt, resulting in poor air quality and organic loss to the soil.”

The communication asked DCs to name “numberdars” responsible for paddy burning in their areas.

In August, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) had asked all DCs to provide the coordinates of pollution spots to ascertain the identity of offenders.

Sangrur villagers vow to defy ban

• Sangrur: Chatha Nanhera villagers on Monday announced burning paddy stubble as they claimed they did not have any alternative. In their support, the Sidhupur and Ugrahan factions of the BKU have started mobilising villagers to gherao officers and lay siege to police stations if anyone takes action against farmers.
• “Farmers do not want to burn stubble as they are aware of its ill-effects. But they do not have an alternative as the state government has neither given financial help nor technical assistance to dispose of stubble. Today, all Chatha Nanhera villages decided to burn paddy stubble immediately after harvesting,” said Ran Singh Chatha, block convener, BKU (Sidhupur).
• Joginder Singh Ugrahan, president, BKU (Ugrahan), said farmers alone could not be blamed for causing damage to the environment. The DC, APS Virk, said the district administration had launched a special campaign to spread awareness against stubble burning. “If any farmer burns stubble, officers will take action,” he added.