Punjab given 76K machines in 3 yrs to stop farm fires: Centre

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 1

Punjab was given 76,626 machines over the period of last three years to check the growing problem of stubble burning, the Centre informed Parliament this week.

While 50,847 machines in Punjab were given to custom hiring centres, 25,779 were given to individual farmers to manage crop residue with the aim of preventing air pollution.

Responding to a question by Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said between 2018-19 and 2020-21, Punjab was given 76,626 machines under the Central Sector Scheme on Promotion of Agricultural Mechanisation for in situ management of crop residue. The 100 per cent centrally funded scheme for management of crop residue is being run by the Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi for the period between 2018 and 2021. Farmers of the four states are being provided subsidised machines for in situ crop residue management to check air pollution.

Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav this week introduced in Lok Sabha the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region Bill, 2021, to deal with the problem of air pollution in Delhi and adjoining areas.