Tribune News ServiceHalwara (Ludhiana), October 20
After scaring environmentalists and agriculture experts, thick smog from the burning of paddy stubble has now engulfed Halwara Air Force Station reducing visibility and hampering smooth operations. Thick smog has reduced visibility for the pilots from 5 km to 1.5 km, affecting practice sorties and other vital exercises of the front-line station.
The Air Force authorities, worried over the consequences of the thick smog on national security, have fervently appealed to farmers in 14 villages around Halwara to immediately stop burning paddy stubble. Sources say they also convened a meeting of the sarpanches of some villages a couple of days ago to seek their help on this issue.
Halwara Air Force Station is one of the most vital defence installations of North India. Air Force sources say considering the tension on the border, readiness for any event is necessary. The smog can affect operations in case of any eventuality and play a virtual villainous role.
While so far the Air Force authorities have taken a lenient view of the problem, sources say if the burning continues, the authorities will seek the help of the district administration in initiating strict action against the farmers.
Like in the previous years, District Magistrate Anurag Aggarwal issued orders early this month banning the practice but the orders have been more in breach than in force. It is common to see farmers setting their fields on fire but no action has been initiated against any person so far as. The farmers can be booked under Section 188 of the Cr P C for violating the DM’s orders.
The sarpanches are learnt to have made an announcement from the village gurdwaras urging the farmers to stop paddy burning. The result is awaited.
Group Captain S K Midha, who is also the Chief Administrative Officer of the station, confirmed the anxiety of the Air Force. He said the flight plans have been seriously disturbed ever since the farmers started burning paddy stubble.
He said the visibility was almost poor and there was great difficulty in carrying out routine exercises. He said they keep calling meetings of the village heads to seek help in maintaining the security of the Air Force station.
“We called the village heads two days ago and pleaded with them to stop paddy stubble burning. We hope the farmers will abide in view of the national security and there won’t be any need of seeking the intervention of the District Administration” Mr Midha said.
He added that the farmers were educated about the damage caused to the environment besides causing problems to the Air Force Station. He said he also distributed copies of The Tribune and Ludhiana Tribune in which the harmful effects of paddy stubble burning on soil nutrients were also detailed.
