Farmers ask government to stop registering cases for stubble burning

Bhartiya Kisan Union (Doaba), headed by president Manjit Singh Rai, have urged the government to stop registering of cases against farmers for burning stubble and to take actions to stop the cuts being imposed on farmers in the grain markets of the state. The union warned the government of launching a protest in the coming days if these reqests were not heeded.

General secretary Satnam Singh Sahni said the members and farmers at the meeting discussed that a high numbers of cases were being registered against farmers for burning stubble in Punjab. They said as per the recommendations of the National Green Tribunal Rs 2,500 per acre was to be provided to farmers under the Crop Residue Management Incentive Payment (CRMIP), along with machinery to dispose of stubble, but nothing in this regard was being provided to the farmers on the ground level due to which they were forced to burn the stubble.

The leaders urged the state government to stop registering cases against farmers and provide them Rs 2,500 per acre aid and machinery for proper disposal of stubble.

The Farmers leaders further discussed that instances of cuts of 4/5 Kg per quintal of paddy on the name of sheller owners was still ongiong and farmers were being exploited while the government was ignoring it. The leaders said government was making all the efforts in registering cases against farmers but none were being made to stop the cuts being imposed on them.