MANDI: Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha has summoned a report from deputy commissioners within a week regarding the action taken against farmers burning stubble, in line with the Supreme Court guidelines. The Chief Secretary has asked for reports from every district detailing the revenue records showing red entries and the FIRs registered against farmers.
The incidents of stubble burning are increasing in Punjab. The total number of cases has now reached 1,348. On Friday, 59 new cases were reported. Contrary to the government’s claims, the total number of stubble-burning cases this season is approaching last year’s 2023 record.
Last year, between September 15 and October 19, the total number of stubble-burning cases reached 1,407. However, during the same period in 2022, there were 2,189 cases. According to the data, on this very day, Punjab recorded 342 stubble-burning cases in 2022 and 18 in 2023.
CM Mann taunts PM Modi
On the issue of stubble burning, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann remarked that Punjab alone could not be held responsible for the problem. Taking a dig at the central government, CM Mann stated that if the Prime Minister could stop the war in Ukraine, why can’t he stop the smoke from stubble burning?
The Punjab Chief Minister has appealed to Prime Minister Modi to convene a meeting with the chief ministers of all states on the stubble-burning issue. Speaking to the media, Mann emphasised that the problem of stubble burning is not confined to one state but affects all of North India.
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He urged PM Modi to call a meeting and resolve this issue. “If Prime Minister Modi can stop the Ukraine war, as he claims in advertisements, then why can’t he stop this smoke?” Mann questioned. He suggested that the PM should convene a meeting of all states, provide compensation, and involve scientists in finding a solution.
Mann said farmers from any state did not want to burn stubble, but they had no alternative. Farmers do not even want to cultivate paddy, but they don’t get Minimum Support Price (MSP) for other alternative crops. So, what should the farmers do if not grow paddy? He pointed out that when paddy is produced, and the country’s granaries are filled, the same farmers are praised. But when it comes to stubble burning, the farmers are blamed and penalised.
CM Mann also said that the central government keeps asking his administration to encourage farmers, but mere encouragement isn’t enough — practical steps are needed. His government has provided 1.25 lakh machines to farmers and is continuously working on the issue, while also urging the central government to help farmers.
