Registering FIRs for stubble burning is not a solution, says Punjab BJP
Former Punjab BJP President Avinash Rai Khanna urged the AAP government to provide machinery and financial assistance to farmers instead of penalising them.
Former Punjab BJP President Avinash Rai Khanna criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Monday for its approach to stubble burning in Punjab. Speaking in Chandigarh, Khanna said that filing first information reports (FIRs), issuing fines, and making red entries in land records do not solve the issue.
According to The Hawk, Khanna stated that the government should focus on understanding the difficulties faced by farmers. He said the state government must ensure that farmers receive timely financial assistance, diesel, subsidies, and necessary machinery for managing stubble.
Khanna suggested that village-level arrangements should be made so small and marginal farmers can rent equipment like Happy Seeders, Super Seeders, and balers. He noted that farmers are already dealing with natural calamities and rising cultivation expenses.
The former BJP leader described the imposition of fines and police action as unfortunate. He urged the government to hold discussions with farmers' organisations to find practical solutions and encourage effective management methods.
Separately, a high-level team from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas reviewed paddy straw management in Sangrur, Patiala, and Malerkotla. The team advised officials to monitor stubble burning incidents closely and ensure ground actions match their committed targets.
The CAQM team also visited a paper making unit in Malerkotla that uses paddy straw as fuel. Industry representatives informed the team that the facility utilises approximately 17,000 MT of paddy straw in its boiler furnace every year.