The Punjab government has come out with an elaborate action plan to curb the deadly menace of stubble burning in the state through a multi-pronged approach, backed by a strong appeal from Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to farmers to abstain from the harmful practice.The plan has been drawn up by the Department of Science, Technology & Environment on the directives of Captain Amarinder, who has appealed to the farmers to abstain from the harmful practice of burning the paddy residue, which is causing massive pollution in the state.With 75% of the 19.7 million tons of paddy straw generated in Punjab every year, the problem has assumed dangerous proportions, leading to loss of organic material for soil, degradation of air quality and high SPM level. Of the total paddy straw, only 21.8% is consumed in biomass based projects, paper/cardboard mills and animal fodder/other uses, while a small portion is managed through other systems such as machinery and equipment.
As part of its action plan, the Department has suggested management of the remaining 15.40 million tons per year of paddy residue through crop diversification, agriculture straw management equipment and industrial use.
Significant investment is being made to set up biomass power plant, bio refineries and demonstration plants in various parts of the state to facilitate industrial use and energy conversion of the agricultural residue.In addition, the Chief Minister has already suggested to the central government a proposal to provide an incentive @ Rs. 100 per Quintal of paddy in addition to MSP to motivate the farmers to desist from stubble burning, an official spokesperson said, adding that Captain Amarinder would hold further meetings with the Union Ministers of Agriculture and Finance on this issue next week.In the meantime, the state government has taken several steps to strengthen the legal framework to control the problem. The Department had, in 2013, issued orders under section 19(5) of the Air Act, 1981 banning burning of all kinds of crop residue.The official spokesperson said that all Deputy Commissioners have issued orders under Cr.P.C. banning the burning of wheat straw and other residue in their districts. The village panchayats have also been directed to pass resolutions that crop residue will not be burnt and in case of violation the person would not be eligible for auction of panchayat land next year. What is more, the Department has decided to make the panchayat responsible for providing written information of any incident of straw burning to the local Police/SDM.Concurrently, the department has also launched a major campaign to create awareness among the farmers about the ill-effects of stubble burning.
This is being done in collaboration with other departments, namely Department of Agriculture, PPCB, District Authority, Department of Animal Husbandry, Department of Rural Development & Panchayat, Cooperative Department, Education Department and PAU. The PAU, in fact, organized Kisan Melas at Krishi Vigyan Kendras and 2 lakh farmers attended the said mela, while 28 Publicity vans were sent out during April 2017, in addition to publication of newspaper and TV advertisements.Steps are also being taken to monitor incidents of stubble burning, with the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana, having been engaged by PPCB to deliver real time information about fire incidents. The PRSC has also developed a monitoring mechanism along with SMS alert system, whereby SMS/email is sent daily to the Deputy Commissioner and other local functionaries of the districts regarding fire incidents in their area. In addition, the Deputy Commissioners have formed District Level Monitoring Committees, members of which are deputed to visit the place of fire incident and impose environmental compensation on the defaulting farmers or take other suitable action. During the wheat harvesting season, Environment Compensation amounting to Rs. 61.47 lacs was imposed on farmers involved in 10,905 stubble burning incidents. In another initiative, Patiala is being developed as a model district in stubble burning control and the Agriculture Department has released Rs. 1.14 crores for establishment of machinery banks for straw management equipment for the farmers. Awareness camps, along with demonstrations/exhibitions/field days have also been organized.