To elicit maximum participation of Government officials in the ongoing anti-stubble burning campaign, the Punjab Government has issued detailed instructions to the entire staff of departments/boards/corporations and cooperative societies thereby making them accountable for burning any paddy straw on the farms owned or cultivated by them. State Nodal Officer of anti-stubble burning campaign K.S. Pannu informed that Punjab govt has issued instructions to all departments that in addition to ensuring that they themselves donot indulge in straw burning these employees have also been directed to create awareness amongst the farmers about the ill-effects of stubble burning causing irreversible damage to nature, environment and human health. He further said that in case any employee fails to comply with these directions then disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against such delinquent employees.These officials have also been mandated to bring to the notice of the concerned authorities about any incident of stubble burning across the state.
Notably, the state government has already embarked upon a massive programme for management of paddy straw, without burning, by the farmers. As many as 24315 subidized agro-machines/equipments are being supplied to the farmers, Cooperative Societies and Custom Hiring Centres to achieve zero burning of paddy straw. About 8000 village level nodal officers have been deputed to create awareness against stubble burning amongst farmers.
Paddy is grown on 65 lac acres of land in Punjab. After harvesting paddy, about 20 million tonnes of paddy straw is left in the fields to be managed by farmers before sowing the next Rabi crops. It is estimated that 15 million tonnes of paddy straw is burnt by farmers for early and easy clearance of the fields.It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had recently written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking Rs. 100 per quintal as compensation only for those farmers who abstain from burning paddy residue under the state government’s ambitious programme for management of paddy straw.