Drive to make Prayagraj farmers aware of stubble mgmt launched

MOST OF THESE INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED FROM BARA TEHSIL.

PRAYAGRAJ : Even as the state government is withdrawing cases against farmers for burning stubble in their fields, Praygaraj district administration is taking steps to ensure that they do not do so this season.

In a recent meeting, officials laid stress on keeping a strict watch in rural areas where incidents of stubble burning were reported. They also issued directives to take all possible steps to create awareness among farmers and ensure that they do not burn stubble under any circumstances.

District magistrate, Prayagraj, Sanjay Khatri has asked agriculture department and officials of other concerned departments not to leave any stone unturned in generating awareness among the farmers about the ill effects of burning stubble on the environment and how it affects the health of soil.

DM asked the officials to implement the scheme of providing cow dung manure to farmers in return of stubble which will benefit both farmers and cow shelters.

District agriculture officer Subhash Maurya said a campaign had been launched to make the farmers aware of equipment and process used for decomposing stubble and its management besides subsidies on them. They would be informed about recycling of stubble instead of burning it, he added.

The district administration has also roped in lekhpals, revenue, panchayati raj employees to keep an eye on the fields under their respective areas and immediately report if they spot stubble burning.

Police in trans-Yamuna and trans-Ganga areas have also been asked to remain on alert and stop farmers from burning stubble in their fields.

Many cases of stubble burning surfaced last year in the district in which action was taken against 37 farmers. Most of these incidents were reported from Bara Tehsil.