PPCB collects ₹2-lakh fine from Doaba farmers
KAPURTHALA Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has collected ₹2 lakh fine from farmers involved in the illegal practice of stubble burning in the region.
In a move to curb the banned practice, the state government took the initiative after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) pulled up the PPCB last year for an increase in air pollution in National Capital Region (NCR) from burning of stubble.
As per information, PPCB has collected ₹50, 000 from 12 farmers in Jalandhar, ₹40,000 from 14 farmers in Kapurthala, ₹60,000 from 24 farmers in Hoshiarpur and ₹47,500 from 16 farmers in SBS Nagar till Thursday.
“Using satellite facilities to locate burning sites for the first time, out of 350 fire incidents this year in Doaba, 66 have been identified as stubble burning,” said a PPCB official. Over 100 cases of fire reported in the night through satellite images are still pending and PPCB said it is probing the complaints.
Jalandhar division environmental engineer Ashok Kumar Garg said, “After the information is received, a team comprising a revenue department official, an official from the agriculture department, a PPCB official and a policeman visits the site and imposes fine on violators.”
He added that complying with NGT orders, PPCB is imposing fine up to ₹2,500 on farmers with 2.5 acres, ₹5,000 with 2.5-5 acres, ₹7,500 with 10 acres and ₹15, 000 on those having more than 10 acres.
Hoshiarpur region environmental engineer Arun Kumar Kakkar said, “Stubble burning cases are on the decrease but accidental fire incidents have increased as compared to last year.” 100 cases of accidental fire have been reported in Kapurthala, 50 in Jalandhar, 84 in Hoshiarpur and 34 sites in SBS Nagar till Thursday evening.
President of Bharat Kisan Union Balbir Singh Rajewal, however, blamed inadequate infrastructure management of the stubble. “Costly technology for management of stubble can’t be afforded by farmers,” he said.