A spar over stubble burning, demand for tax on Sukhvilas

AAP ACCUSES THE STATE GOVERNMENT OF NOT PROVIDING FARM IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINERY TO FARMERS TO MANAGE STUBBLE

CHANDIGARH: The opposition and treasury benches in the Punjab assembly sparred over the efforts being made to curb the menace of stubble burning in the state.

The opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the state government of not providing farm implements and machinery to farmers for paddy stubble management whereas chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh said his government is working on an action plan to curb paddy straw burning and free the state of the resultant smog and pollution.

The chief minister intervened while power and irrigation minister Rana Gurjit Singh was replying to a query by Congress MLA from Khanna Gurkirat Singh during the Question Hour about the incentives extended by the state government for setting up paddy and wheat based industries in the state. Raising concern over air pollution due to smog, the MLA said that it was leading to road accidents.

Leader of opposition also accused the state government of not provide equipment to farmers as mandated by the National Green Tribunal. “What options do the farmers have other than burning stubble?” he asked, putting the cost of crop residue management at Rs 5,000 per acre.

However, the chief minister said the state government had recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a Chennai company to address the problem and work on alternate ways of disposing off crop residue. The company will set up 400 processing plants for converting paddy straw into bio energy in the state. “From the next season, they will procure residue and then the problem will be solved,” he said.

AAP MLA SEEKS TAX ON BADALS’ RESORT

AAP legislator Kanwar Sandhu suggested to the Congress government to impose tax on Sukhvilas, a luxury resort owned by the Badals, in Mohali to recover the money spent on a road leading to it instead of burdening the people with toll tax.

The Kharar MLA gave the suggestion while asking a supplementary to his question on a toll plaza set up at Braudi on Chandigarh-siswan-kurali road which is neither a state highway nor a national highway. He also wanted to know whether the government would provide toll tax exemption to resident of all the villages of Majri block passing through the toll barrier.

Replying to the query, minister Brahm Mohindra said that toll was being charged as per policy and agreement signed with the concessionaire. He asked Sandhu to send his proposal in writing. “It is the most intelligent question. I will get your suggestion examined,” said the minister.

FIREFIGHTING SERVICE: ~200-CRORE SOUGHT FROM WORLD BANK

The Punjab government is in the process of getting Rs 200 crore from the World Bank for upgrade of fire services in the state, said local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. The minister was responding to a question by SAD legislator NK Sharma who raised the issue of non-availability of drivers and trained staff for fire tenders deployed by the state government at several places.

Sidhu, while giving an assurance to the member on dealing with the shortage on priority, said the fire services will be completely modernised in the next three years. “Of the Rs 43 crore sanctioned by the CM, a sum of Rs 7 crore has been earmarked for buying fire clothing and safety equipment for firemen across the state. The government will make the required 550 fire tenders available, along with mandated staff,” he said.