To check stubble trouble, Sangrur plans hay bank

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 13

The Sangrur administration with the help of a local NGO has decided to construct a hay bank to prevent stubble-burning.

Sangrur Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori has given a target of collecting 15 trailers of hay from fields to Block Development and Panchayat Officers. The administration will collect stubble free of cost and store it in a bank, which will be set up this week. From the bank it would be sent to Mathura, UP, by Swami Amrita Anand by spending money from his gaushala to use the hay as fodder for animals. Swami was in Sangrur this week and interacted with farmers and told them that they had been using hay as dry fodder for the last 15 years.

“With the help of the administration, we will collect hay from villages and store it in the bank. Later, it will be transported to Mathura. Swami is visiting Sangrur on our invitation to spread awareness on the issue,” said Dr AS Mann, president, Scientific Awareness and Social Welfare Forum, after presiding over a hay management committee today.

“The Mathura district authorities said farmers there do not burn stubble, but use hay as fodder. I have directed all BDPOs to collect 15 trailers each from their area and bring to our hay bank. Apart from the bank, we will also store hay in government gaushala, Jhaneri,” the DC said. “We do not have any problem if the administration is willing to remove hay free of cost from our fields,” said Kulwinder Singh from Mehla Chowk village.

Chief Agriculture Officer Jaswinderpal Singh Grewal said they had already announced to support the idea of hay bank in Sangrur.

“The consumption of hay does not cause any harm to animals. There is a need to spread awareness about it,” he said.