Farmers make stubble-burning calls from gurdwaras in Mansa

MANSA: In a violation of state government’s orders, members of the farmer union have now taken to making announcements from gurdwaras before burning of stubble in Mansa villages.

Members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Dakounda) have been encouraging farmers to defy government orders by making announcements from gurdwaras. “We have been gathering farmers by making announcements at villages like Aklia, Makha, Khyala Kalan, Ralla before burning stubble in around 100 acres. The government has issued gag orders against stubble burning but no alternatives have been provided to us,” said leader of BKU (Dakaounda) Mohinder Singh.

Slamming the government for not imposing fine on industrialists for adding to water pollution, one of protesting farmers Jiwan Singh said, “They have put satellite mapping to track offenders who burn the agricultural residue, but the industrial wastes released in the water bodies invite no such punishment.”

Even after the district administration issued over 40 challans against farmers for stubble burning in the district, the practice continues to be followed across villages.

HT had highlighted that the administration claimed that it did not receive alerts about fire incidents in agricultural fields from the satellite mapping centre in Ludhiana.

Deputy commissioner Dharam Pal Gupta initially denied incidents of stubble burnig, but later said action will be taken against the members of farmer union for instigating people to burn stubble. “This is getting common in villages where there is a strong presence of farmer unions.” However, despite the video of farmers burning stubble going viral, no one has been booked.