Led by Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik, Ludhiana District Administration has waged a war against stubble burning practices through a multi-pronged strategy to curb this menace. Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioners, and Sub Divisional Magistrates are making regular field visits to sensitized farmers against the ill-effects of stubble burning while fire brigade teams are acting swiftly against farm fire incidents.
Likewise, cluster level officers have been deployed in the entire district to keep a close tab over such incidents who will also ensure appropriate action against violators.Special teams along with fire bridges have reached villages Kular, Morkarima, Balion, Nasrali, Paprodi, Baliewal, Bharthala, Samrala, Bilaspur, Ikolaha, Karima, Bhagwanpura, Talwandi Rai, Shahbazpura, Sihala, Kohara where immediate action was taken against farm fire incidents. The fire bridge teams have doused the fire while enforcement teams have also initiated their action.
Giving more information, Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik said that the administration has also intensified public announcements in villages besides regular meetings with farmers by officials of agriculture department. The deputy commissioner categorically mentioned that anyone violating the rules will be dealt with iron hands as police and civil administration was jointly working on the mission to curb stubble burning cases in the district.
She said that it was mandatory for the combine operators to attach Super Straw Management System (SMS) with their combines to carry out harvesting operations failing to which FIRs would be lodged against the violators besides heavy penalties and seizure of combines were also in the offing.
She further revealed that the numbardars in the district have been tasked to monitor the stubble burning instances in the respective areas and report immediately to the concerned authorities if they trace any kind of stubble burning case.Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner also visited some hot spots wherein she had a detailed celebrations with the stakeholders to sensitize them against this issue concerning health and environmental risks.
Earlier, SDM Payal Poonampreet Kaur also made surprise visits to village Doraha, Payal, Damot, Sihora, Giddri, Madnipur and others to spread awareness against this practice. She urged farmers to shun stubble burning practice to further strengthen our environment and health.