There has been a 45 per cent drop in stubble burning cases in Punjab during the 2017 paddy harvesting season as compared to the 2016 figures. This is the result of the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh’s strenuous efforts to check pollution.This fact came to light at a high-level meeting under the chairmanship of the Union Environment Secretary C.K. Mishra.During the meeting, senior officers of the Agriculture and Environment departments of the Punjab said that there were 80,879 cases of stubble burning during 2016 Paddy season. 43,814 cases reported in 2017 season, which are 45 per cent less than 2016.They also said there were 15,378 cases of stubble burning during the 2017 wheat harvesting season. The 2018 season was even better, when 11,095 cases of stubble burning came into light. This figure is 28 per cent less than the 2017 figure.They said this change has happened due to the state government's efforts to sensitise people against pollution with seminars and meetings with farmers. They also applauded the farmers for joining the state government's endeavour to curb this menace.
The state authorities apprised there was a legal mechanism in place against residue burning but the state government is sensitising farmers against stubble burning. They also informed that besides providing subsidiary machinery to the Farmer Groups and Agriculture Cooperative Societies, the state government was also setting up dust collector machines in grain markets.The Union Secretary Mr. Mishra watched the presentations on environment safety measures took by the Punjab and Haryana and he also reviewed the other activities done by both states to save the earth. Mr. Mishra also gave some suggestions to achieve the pollution free and green country goal. He exhorted that social media and NGOs can prove helpful to sensitise common people especially farmers against the hazard of pollution.The Punjab Chief Secretary Mr. Karan Avtar Singh and Haryana Chief Secretary Mr. Depinder Singh Dhesi and other higher officials of both states and Paytm representatives were also present in the meeting. Punjab Agriculture Secretary Mr. Kahan Singh Pannu gave the presentation on environment safety measures took by the state.