Commission orders action against farm fire violators, erring officials
As the air quality index (AQI) continued to zoom upwards across the Malwa and Majha regions in Punjab and residents complained of uneasiness in breathing, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has asked state’s civil and police officials to take a strict stance against violators indulging in burning of paddy stubble and the officials who fail to control farm fires.
Air quality in the region remained in the “poor” or “very poor” category, with Amritsar recording an AQI of 310 and Mandi Gobindgarh 322. Chandigarh saw the worst air quality in the region at 384. Though the reason for the poor air quality is the fall in temperature, resulting in higher air density and moisture, which does not allow pollutants to dissipate, but the rising farm fire incidents are also adding to the problem. As many as 509 incidents were reported on Wednesday, taking the total farm fire incidents this season to 7,621.
During a review meeting on paddy stubble management, chaired by CAQM Chairman Rajesh Verma with Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, all officers were reportedly asked by the former about the action taken by them against violators and officials responsible for controlling farm fires. They were instructed to deal with the show-cause notices issued to officials within a week.
“We have asked the officers to decide on the show-cause notices, as well as on action to be taken against errant farmers, in the next seven days and send us the report,” said Gurnam Singh, Head, Paddy Stubble Management Cell of CAQM. He said since air quality was worsening, the officers had been instructed to remain on “high alert” till November 30, when the paddy harvesting would finally be over.
It is learnt that several DCs and SSPs, including those of Sangrur, Ferozepur, Bathinda and Jalandhar, present in the meeting raised the issue of farmer unions trying to stonewall their efforts in initiating action against defaulters.
While officers of 13 districts, Amritsar, Barnala, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Faridkot, Mansa, Moga, Muktsar, Patiala, Sangrur and Tarn Taran, were physically present at the meeting, the officers of Jalandhar, Kapurthala and Tarn Taran joined it through video-conferencing.
Each officer gave a presentation on the steps taken to manage paddy stubble scientifically and to control farm fires in their respective districts. The officers from Tarn Taran also spoke about how they were seeking the help of Border Security Force (BSF) in their efforts to control farm fires and manage stubble in villages across the fence along the International Border.
The meeting lasted for several hours, with the team of officers from the CAQM also grilling the officers on how much of the total 20 million tonnes of stubble was managed through in-situ and ex-situ techniques.
The use of paddy stubble management machines for in-situ management and the low availability of balers in some districts to lift bales and take these for ex-situ management was also discussed.
The state government was asked to facilitate setting up of more compressed biogas plants, besides ensuring that these were spread out across the state, rather than being concentrated around big cities.
Chief Secretary Sinha also raised the issue of incentivising farmers for managing stubble scientifically, suggesting that the incentive be given to such farmers after November every year.
The issue of mismatch between the number of farm fires captured by satellite imagery and via on-ground verification was also discussed at the meeting.
