RS member asks farmers to avoid stubble-burning

Rajya Sabha member and environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal urged farmers to refrain from burning paddy stubble. Addressing gatherings, commemorating the 450th Guruship of Shri Guru Ram Das Ji and the 450th anniversary of Shri Guru Amar Das Ji’s Jyoti Jot Divas in Nirmal Kutia Pandwan, Sant Seechewal advocated mixing stubble into the soil as it increased fertility and reduced the need for fertilisers, leading to higher yields.

Seechewal said machinery was available for bundling stubble and several companies had started purchasing it, offering an additional income to farmers.

He stressed the importance of protecting Punjab’s environment, as underground water levels were dropping. He said burning stubble affected the air quality and posed a serious risk to those with respiratory conditions. He urged farmers to pledge to not burn stubble and adopt eco-friendly practices. He also appealed for mass planting trees. Dera head Sant Gurbachan Singh honoured Seechewal with a robe as a token of respect.