DC, CP, SSPs urge farmers to give up stubble burning practices by adopting crop residue management system

Ludhiana, November 8, 2023: Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik, Commissioner of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu, SSP Khanna Amneet Kondal and SSP Ludhiana (Rural) Navneet Singh Bains today urged the farmers to stop stubble burning practices as it was causing serious health and environmental issues in the district. Chairing a review meeting here at the district administrative complex, they directed the civil and police officials to keep a close tab over the entire situation so that such practices could be put to an end in the district.

This meeting was attended by all senior officials of District Administration Ludhiana, including Police Commissionerate Ludhiana, officers of jurisdiction of SSP Khanna and Ludhiana Rural and senior Agriculture Department.
 
Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik said that a joint meeting of the officials of police and civil administration was held to ensure a coordinated approach to this environmental and health problem. She further mentioned that the administration has provided over 8000 in-situ and ex-situ machines including super seeder, happy seeder, mulcher, bailer, surface seeder, etc. through cooperative societies to manage paddy straw in the district effectively; hence farmers who have obtained these machineries must help small and marginal farmers so that they can also manage their paddy straw without burning it.
 
The DC said that the stubble burning not only causes health and environmental problems but also reduces soil fertility which is a serious matter of concern. She also said that round the clock monitoring of farm fire incidents was being made through satellite systems; therefore no one can get away with farm firing. Strict action was being ensured against those violating Supreme Court’s guidelines with respect to not burning crop residue; she said adding that it was need of the hour to curtail this practice to protect our environment, health and soil.

Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner of Police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said that Police and Civil Administration were working jointly on this issue and strict action was being ensured against violators. He further mentioned that red entries were being made in revenue records where farm fires were confirmed besides imposition of environmental compensation. He added that farmers who have adopted the paddy straw management system will be honored by the administration while those taking law in their own hands have to face strict action. He appealed to farmers to accord top most priority to this matter as it is directly connected with our future.