Govt delays provision of stubble management equipment

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, December 10

The announcement of the Union Government to decriminalise stubble-burning, besides the lack of equipment to manage farm waste without burning will create serious problems. In Sangrur alone, 1,678 general category farmers are still waiting for equipment while 730 got it after November 24, when they were already done with the sowing of their crops.

Crops already sown

In Sangrur alone, 1,678 general category farmers are still waiting for equipment while 730 got it after November 24, when they were already done with the sowing of their crops

Experts opine that the total decriminalisation of stubble-burning would aggravate the situation as many, who had been managing stubble without burning it, would feel discouraged. “There must be at least some symbolic penalty against stubble-burning to prevent farm fires,” said said Dr AS Mann, president of Scientific Awareness Forum, Sangrur.

Amid claims of the state government of having provided required help to farmers, sources said in Sangrur, till October 31, out of 630, 555 farm machines had come to Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), 40 to Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) and 19 to panchayats and the remaining to 16 farmers from reserved category. However, not even a single individual of general category had received any machines this year. On November 24, in the first draw, the Agriculture Department authorities allotted 730 machines out of the total 2,408 to general category farmers. Out of these, 606 were given in Sangrur and the remaining 124 in Malerkotla.

Similarly, 259 farmers from SC families and 11 more panchayats and cooperative societies have reveived machines and the department had fixed November 29 as the date of verification of machines.“The Agriculture Department has given machines very late as more than 90 per cent sowing of crops has been done. We have written to the Union Government for a high-level inquiry and action against officers who delayed the process,” said Aman Punia, co-incharge, BJP Kisan Morcha, Punjab.

When contacted, Sangrur Chief Agriculture Officer Jaswinderpal Singh Grewal said, “Through a mandatory procedure, we will allot more machines after receiving more funds.”