Compensate Punjab farmers for not burning straw: Capt to Modi
CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, seeking a compensation of ₹100 per quintal for the state’s farmers for not burning paddy stubble. The CM also requested the PM for settlement of ₹31,000-crore Cash Credit Limit (CCL) gap and sought the Centre’s assistance for celebration of the 550th birth anniversary of the first Sikh master, Guru Nanak, in November 2019.
“The problem of stubble burning could get aggravated, despite steps taken by the state government, with the close of the harvest season, and needed to be addressed in Punjab,” Amarinder told Modi. Later, he said, “The PM took a sympathetic view of the problems of farmers.”
Amarinder thanked Modi for the central government’s decision not to disturb the 60:40 ratio with respect to the appointment of officers in the UT of Chandigarh.
Amarinder had, in recent weeks, registered a strong protest over upsetting the balance in sharing of officers and other resources between Haryana and Punjab.
A spokesperson said the CM had urged Modi to advise the Union finance ministry to urgently settle the ₹31,000 crore CCL gap on the principle of shared responsibilities.
Reiterating his demand for resettlement of gap in Food Cash Credit Account of the state, which had resulted from systemic and structural reasons, the CM told Modi, “This should be settled on the principle of shared responsibilities among stakeholders in the procurement of foodgrain.”
Amarinder also requested the PM to issue suitable directions to the Union ministry of culture and the National Implementation Committee, instituted in June this year, to provide to support Punjab government.