Centre turns down state’s Rs 1,200-cr demand for checking farm fires

The Centre has turned down the Punjab Government’s demand for Rs 1,200 crore towards payment of incentives to farmers to dissuade them from stubble burning, the main reason behind poor air quality in Delhi-NCR during October-December.

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare said, “The Government of Punjab may consider providing the incentive to farmers from its own budget resources on the similar lines of the Haryana Government to further control paddy stubble burning.”

“It is also pertinent to mention that the Government of Haryana is providing incentive from its own budget resources that include incentive of Rs 1 lakh to red zone panchayats and Rs 50,000 to yellow zone panchayats for achieving zero stubble burning, Rs 7,000 per acre for diversification of paddy area to alternative crops under Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme, Rs 4,000 per acre for adoption of direct sowing of rice etc.,” the Centre said. “These initiatives have contributed significantly in reducing stubble burning in the state (Haryana),” the Centre added.

Last month, the SC had asked the Centre to take an “appropriate decision” in two weeks on the Punjab Government’s demand for Rs 1,200 crore for payment of incentive to farmers to dissuade them from paddy stubble burning.

Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh had emphasised that penalising farmers wasn’t a solution to the problem as most of them were marginal farmers who needed to be given incentive.

However, the Centre said the Punjab Government’s proposal was nothing but “the copy of the same proposal submitted in July 2022 which is reconstructed to proclaim that the expenditure would be incurred on operational cost of usage of crop residue management machinery e.g. hiring of tractors, cost of diesel, cost of manpower etc.

“The department is already supporting the state government and funds have been provided for the purchase of CRM (crop residue management) machines by farmers with 50 per cent subsidy. The custom hiring centres of CRM machines are established with subsidy at the rate of 80 per cent of the project cost. The paddy straw supply chain projects are also provided 65 per cent subsidy on the project cost. Funds have also been provided to the state and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for taking up information, education and communication activities for mass awareness,” the affidavit read.

“From 2018-19 to 2024-25, Rs 1,681.45 crore central funds have been released to the State of Punjab. The state has distributed more than 1.46 lakh machines and over 25,500 custom hiring centres (CHCs) have also been established.

“During the current year, against Rs 300-crore allocation of central funds, Rs 150 crore has already been released. Thus Rs 250 crore fund, including the state share, is available with the state for 2024-25. Against these funds, the expenditure so far is very negligible. The state should spend these funds. Additional funds may also be provided, if required by the state,” the Centre submitted.