VIOLATION: Stubble burning goes on despite ban

Ferozepur, October 23, 2012:  Despite a ban imposed on stubble burning, the unhealthy practice continues unabated in Ferozepur  district. Stubble burning not only pollutes the environment, causes health ailments; it is now a hurdle in driving even during day time.

M. S. Gill, Director of extension education of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU)  at the start of paddy harvesting in Punjab, has urged the state farmers not to indulge in paddy draw (parali) burning as it leads to serious health hazards and environmental pollution though emission of gases such carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrous oxide and aerosols.  Cautioning the farmers against the ill-effects of stubble burning, Gill had said that the burning of the residue ends up in the non-renewable loss of precious nutrients. The heat generated by the straw burning leads to loss of useful microbes in soil, thus, adversely affecting soil properties.

During a visit to village in Sher Khan, Kulgarhi, Chhchak and Mehal Singh Wala on Ferozepur-Zira road, it came to light that post-harvest, paddy stubble in most of the fields was burnt to ashes. A shopkeeper on road side at Shar Khan village opined that because of stubble burning, dense smoke even engulfs residential areas, thereby causing respiratory problems to inhabitants.

An educated owner of petrol pump owner at Kulgarhi said, the farmers should adopt eco-friendly technologies like the use of paddy straw for fodder, composting and energy generation.  In view of the condition of small farmers, the use of new agricultural implements would be beyond their means  but the progressive farmers should come forward to stop stubble burning and adopt new methods of sowing.

 

A car has to be stopped near Mehal Singh Wala, due to stubble burning in the fields on both sides of road and making it difficult to drive with thick smoke even during day time and prone to serious accidents.

On Ferozepur-Zira road, numerous farms were spotted wherein paddy stubble was being burnt. Naib Singh, a retired field officer of village Chhuchak said, “There was an immediate need to create awareness among farmers on the issue.  Unless and until farmers are made aware about the ill effects of stubble burning, the practice is likely to continue”.

Renowned medical specialists, Dr. Awtar Singh and Dr. Naresh Khanna, when contacted said, "The smoke emanating from the burning of stubble can lead to several health problems, including bronchitis, respiratory problems and skin ailments.  The crop residuals’ burning also depletes the red blood cell (RBC) count and adversely affects the oxygen carrying capacity in the body.

An active social worker and president of NGOs coordination committee Ferozepur Unit, Inder Singh Gogia said, “The registration of cases against farmers violating the prohibitory orders against crop residuals burning would not suffice, the solution to the problem can be achieved through spreading awareness among farmers through the agricultural department”.

The district magistrate said the orders have been issued with a view to warding off any possibility of damage to the ammunition dump; the district administration has banned the burning of stubble exercising his powers under Section 144 of the CrPC Act but the action has to be taken by the concerned SHO and during his tour he will also inform to the concerned police station.

Manjit Singh Dhami, a retired SDO from Punjab State Electricity Board said, the farmers should shun the practice of stubble burning but they must take extra caution when burning near power poles to reduce the risk of anything that is burning really close to electricity poles in their fields because obviously it is a possible the pole could catch fire and fall and when you have live wires on the ground which become more dangerous. Even the standing crop in the adjoining fields could catch fire due to stubble burning and it must be stopped by the farmers, he added.

Er. Arun Kumar Dhawan of agricultural department said, “The use of Happy Seeder machine is best for sowing immediately after the harvesting”.

He further said, while in all the operations through cultivators etc. for sowing, the consumption of diesel is about 40 liters per acre while the use of Happy Seeder machine reduce to 16 liters for all the operations in one time.

The technology offers a number of benefits such as less weed growth and improved soil health. More-over, if the residuals are not burned, the same are mixed in the soil which would reduce the consumption of inputs like DAP and Urea in the coming two-three years, he added.