Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday, 15 October, extended his sympathies to the farmers of the state over the prohibition on stubble burning but stated that the laws of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) must be followed.
Speaking at a press conference, Singh said he understood the compulsions of the farmers but added that ‘the law is the law’, and advised them to abide by the NGT directive.
According to a report in India Today, Singh said the farmers cannot afford to buy machines or fuel to uproot the paddy straws from the fields.
‘Have Written to PM, Agriculture Minister’
"I know of 17.5 lakh families who own farm holdings. About 10.25 lakh families own holdings measuring even less than five acres. These people cannot even afford to feed their children, leave alone machines or fuel," he said, as per the report. "I have written to the prime minister, the agriculture minister and the food minister."
The Punjab CM had also written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi previously, in which he had sought Rs 100 per quintal as compensation for farmers who do not burn stubble.
Stubble burning has been a major concern in north India during the harvesting season. It has led to severe air pollution in National Capital Region and neighbouring areas in the past few years, prompting authorities to take measures to tackle the problem.
Mobile Apps to Check Crop Burning
The state government had recently launched three mobile apps aimed at checking crop residue burning and creating awareness about its effects on the environment and human health, according to PTI. The applications provide the information at district, block and village levels, in English and Punjabi.
At the launch, Singh had called for strict monitoring and making farmers aware about the hazards of stubble burning.
He had said that stubble burning causes irreversible damage to the texture of soil, natural environment and human health, and directed the agriculture department to work with the science, technology and environment department to intensify campaign to educate farmers about stubble burning.
(With inputs from PTI)
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