DC holds meeting with industrialists and aggregators

Ludhiana, August 2, 2024: Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney on Friday convened a meeting with the heads of industries that use paddy stubble as fuel, as well as with aggregators belonging to Ludhiana. 

The purpose of the meeting was to develop an advanced plan for the effective ex-situ management of paddy stubble, with the goal of preventing stubble burning in the area.

Accompanied by Additional Deputy Commissioner (UD) Anmol Singh Dhaliwal, officials of PPCB and Agriculture departments, Sawhney stated that the district administration will provide temporary stock sites to the boiler-based industries using stubble as fuel near to the units so that they do not face inconvenience in stocking the stubble. She asked them to submit the requirement of stock site with the administration within a few days so that adequate arrangements can be made for them at the earliest. She also mentioned that the administration will provide as much support as they need in managing the stubble under ex-situ.

Furthermore, she asked them to ensure that this year; they procure the maximum stubble from Ludhiana and help the administration in keeping Ludhiana free of stubble burning.

The Deputy Commissioner also asked the aggregators (who own balers) to give their full support to the administration. She assured them that the administration will ensure they do not face any problem while transporting the stubble from the field to industrial units. According to the agriculture department, there are around 240 balers in Ludhiana and they will be extensively used in making bales of the paddy stubble. She also assured the early disposal of subsidies announced by the government on the balers. Sawhney pointed out that the district has recorded 32% fewer cases of stubble burning last year and now this time, we have to work even harder to ensure that none of the farmers indulge in this unhealthy practice. She stated that due to the burning of paddy stubble, several major nutrients and other micronutrients of the soil get destroyed. She also mentioned that instead of burning the paddy stubble, the farmers must adopt effective methods for in-situ and ex-situ management. She disclosed that to encourage the farmers for this, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has been providing several machines including Happy Seeder, Super Seeder, Smart Seeder, Rake, Mulcher, Paddy Chopper Shredder, RMB Plough, and others to farmers and farmers group on subsidies, adding that the individual farmer is entitled to get 50% subsidy and farmers group/cooperative societies get 80% subsidy.