Unimpressed with incentive, Sirsa farmers plan protest on October 10

SIRSA: Unimpressed with the state government’s announcement of Rs 50,000 incentive for panhayats not burning paddy stubble, farmers in all 337 panchayats in Sirsa district that reported around 20% of total stubble burning cases last year, plan to stage a protest against they being forced to stop burning stubble forcible, without providing alternatives.

The protest, under the aegis of the Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (KSS), will be held on Tuesday (October 10) at Chaudhary Devi Lal Park, Sirsa, under the leadership of Sarpanch Association President, Buta Singh.

“We know that pollution is a problem, but it comes from other sources too. What about water pollution coming from different factories and air pollution during Diwali,” Buta Singh told HT.

He went on to add, “The government has failed to provide a solution to uproot paddy straw. We also accept that burning straw is wrong, but give us a proper plan at least. A memorandum will be given,” Buta Singh added.

In Haryana, the major paddy growing districts in Haryana is Karnal, Fatehabad, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Sirsa, Ambala, Jind, Yamunanagar, Panipat and Sonepat which produces 90% of the total yield.

Haryana Space Application Centre (HARSAC), Hisar, that tracks stubble burning says most cases are seen in these districts. RS Hooda, chief scientist, HARSAC said, “On a requeste from the Haryana Pollution Control Board, we started monitoring on stubble burning area using American satellite Suomi and Modis.”

Deputy director, agriculture, for Sirsa, Babu Lal said, “The total area under paddy in the district is 72,000 hectare.”

RISE IN STUBBLE BURNING IN FATEHABAD FROM 2013 TO 2016

Of the five major districts that contribute to the problem of stubble burning, HT does a mathematical comparison of the area under stubble burning.

Karnal has shown around 15% fall in area of paddy stubble burnt from 2013 to 2016. Fatehabad has seen around 25% increase in stubble burning area.

In Kaithal, there was only a marginal drop from 41,000 hectare to 40,000 hectare. Kurukshetra saw a dip in stubble burning of around 10% from 40,000 hectare to 35,000 hectate. Sirsa saw a dramatic dip in 2015.

FARMERSPEAK

Budhabhana resident Jagjeet Singh said, “Give us a proper plan as farmers have to prepare land for the next cycle of crop.”

Another farmer Rampratap Singh of Modiakhera village said, “It costs Rs 5,000 per acre to dispose of straw. The government is planning to provide Rs 50,000 for panchayat. What is the profit of farmers then?”

It costs ₹5,000 per acre to dispose of paddy straw in other ways. The govt is giving ₹50,000 to a panchayat. What is in it for the farmer? RAMPRATAP SINGH, Modiakhera farmer