In Bathinda, stubble burning cases dip, AQI improves

Bathinda has seen a major drop in the stubble burning incidents and consequently, the AQI of the district has shown a significant improvement compared to the last year.

As per the figures shared by the PPCB, against 405 incidents till November 2 last year, the district has seen a drop in their number by 66 per cent this year. The district saw 138 farm fires.

Administrative officials have been able to verify around 50 per cent of the incidents as being correct with most incidents being of residual burning post baling as the district has shifted majorly towards ex situ management. The district administration has planned baling of more than two lakh acres to collect around 4.5 to 5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble and 19 stock yards of paddy stubble are operational in the district.

The district has around 250 balers and around 4,000 super seeders that the administration is exhorting farmers to use to check stubble burning. Efforts are being made to motivate farmers to share the machines with small and marginal farmers at nominal costs. Machines available with cooperative societies are being provided free of cost to them.

Air quality in the district has shown significant improvement over previous years. The AQI of the district that was ‘poor to very poor’ last year and “worst” in the state has been consistently “moderate” and the best in the state over the past few days.

The district administration has deputed special supervisors for 96 villages that are hotspots this year or were hotspots last year. All special supervisors and cluster officers have been provided with a police official and their vehicles have been fitted with sirens by treating them as employees on emergency or law and order duty. In addition, 16 joint teams of senior officers of the administration and the police have been deputed to supervise the working of various officers on duty and assist them in cases of resistance or hostage situations created by the farmers.

The administration has also deputed 15 fire tenders and mapped them with the cluster officers. Strict action is being taken in all verified cases with more than Rs 82,500 imposed through environmental compensation to date and 35 FIRs lodged. Senior officers, including the DC, DIG and the SSP are in the fields and seen actively dousing the fires along with their staff.

Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Shaukat Ahmed Parray said: “We are trying our best to facilitate the stubble decomposition process for farmers so that they don’t set fire to their stubble. We are aiming at acquiring 5 lakh metric tonnes of stubble which will then be used in various industries. Nearly 100 flying squads are doing rounds in nearly 250 villages.”

Bathinda DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar says, “Several teams are guiding farmers by visiting villages. Today too, the teams visited and spotted incidents of stubble burning. I appeal to people not to indulge in stubble burning. We are going to spots and listening to the issues of people. Some of their issues are being resolved.”

Focus on stubble management

• The district administration has planned baling of more than two lakh acres to collect around 4.5 to 5 lakh metric tonnes of paddy stubble and 19 stock yards of paddy stubble are operational in the district
• The district has around 250 balers and around 4,000 super seeders that the administration is exhorting farmers to use to check stubble burning