In a first, 5 Patiala farmers penalised ₹2,500 each for burning stubble

PATIALA: In the first instance of its kind in the state, five farmers have been pen al is ed Rs 2,500 each for burning paddy stubble on land up to 2 acres in violation of orders of the district administration. The administration has issued these orders after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned stubble burning in December 2015.

So far, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has recorded 350 cases of stubble burning in the state this year. The PP CB then sends these images to the DCs for action.

Chairing a meeting of senior officials of civil and police administration on Friday, deputy commissioner Kumar Am it directed officials to implement the ban orders of National Green Tribunal (NGT), related to burning of paddy stubble across the district.

The DC also instructed officials of the department of revenue and rehabilitation to make a red entry in the girdawari register against farmers involved in stubble burning.

Canal patwaris of the irrigation department have been ordered to stop canal water irrigation facility of defaulting farmers.

“Special teams have been formed at the sub-divisional levels in the district, to keep tab on such illegal activities so that stern action can be taken against defaulters,” DC said.

The sub-division al mag st rates (SD Ms) have also been directed to report immediately to the district headquarters, if any government employee, who owns agriculture land, is found burning stubble in his respective fields.

DC also directed the mandi board authorities to create awareness on the issue amongst the farmers that comet oman dis for selling their produce.

“The farmers, who will not burn paddy stubble, will be honour ed for their valuable contribution ,” the DC said.

Additional deputy commissioner (general) Poonamdeep Kaur directed tehsil sector officers appointed for paddy procurement to keep an eye on pad dy stubble burning incidents too.