After receiving the information of stubble burning by a farmer here at village Ubhawal, Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi, immediately rushed to the spot along other administrative officials to dodge the fire with the help of a fire tender and provide him alternate solution. The Deputy Commissioner has been continuously appealing to the farmers in the villages of Sangrur district for the last several weeks not to burn stubble.
Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said that teams of the administration were working actively in the district to monitor farm fires and assist them with required machinery. He said that the administration is trying to reach every village and every farmer in the district and the administrative and police officials were continuously appealing to the farmers to save the environment.
He added that despite of these efforts, such incidents were occurring at some places and immediate appropriate action is being ensured to curb pollution.Deputy Commissioner said that due to the awareness campaign being continuously conducted by the administration and the police, significant results have started pouring in the district. He said that till October 30, 2023, as many as 738 incidents of stubble burning were reported, whereas in the current year till same date, this number is limited to 259.
Deputy Commissioner said that strict action was being taken by the administration against the employees and officials who have failed to stop the incidents of stubble burning and so far 8 people have been suspended in Sangrur district while cases under section 14 of Commission for Air Quality Monitoring (CAQM) act have been registered against three employees.
He added that a letter is also being written to the higher officials of the respective departments to suspend the three officials. He said that a red entry has been recorded in the revenue records of 34 farmers who burnt stubble. Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Rishi said that today, as soon as the matter of farm fire came to his attention, an announcement was made through the village Gurdwara Sahib through the concerned officials and it was dodged by the fire brigade.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Amit Bamby, SDM Charanjot Singh Walia and officials of the Agriculture Department reached the field at Ubhawal along with the Deputy Commissioner and appealed the farmers to manage the crop residual with eco friendly techniques instead of polluting the environment by burning it.The officials said that most of the farmers think that stubble burning saves their money but it leads to burning of fertilisers around Rs. 6000 in one acre area.