Stubble burning continues in Punjab, 696 cases filed so far

The AAP government has issued a letter to all the Deputy Commissioners on September 15 stating to make red-entry in the revenue
records on those farmers’ names who burn stubble in their areas.
The Punjab government has now started cracking down on such farmers who are not deterring from burning paddy straw. Under the rule of 2019, the red-entry of such farmers shall be done in the revenue records. At present, 35 farmers have received the red-entry from the revenue department.
At the same time, 696 cases have been registered for burning stubble. On the other hand, farmers have also started raging against red entry. Congress, Akali Dal, and farmers’ organisations have demanded compensation to the farmers for stubble management, refusing this move of the government.
Most of the cases of stubble burning have been registered in the Majha region, in which the Amritsar district is at the top. The state government has started an awareness campaign against stubble burning as well as providing machinery to the farmers for stubble management. Despite this, farmers’ are not abstaining from burning paddy stubble.
To prevent this, many problems could arise for the farmers whose revenue records have been marked as red-entry by the Revenue Department. Once red-entry is made, the farmer concerned can neither take loan, or mortgage nor sell it on his land.
An official of the Revenue Department said that 696 cases of stubble burning, which have been registered, are also being investigated. If these are found to be correct, then red-entry will be done in the revenue records of the farmers concerned. He said that the government was trying to stop the farmers from burning paddy straw. All kinds of technical help is being provided to the farmers for stubble management. Still, if the farmers do not stop, they will take action.
As per data received from the Revenue Department, for stubble management, the state government has provided 32100 machines on subsidy this season, through which the stubble can be mixed in the soil without burning it. The central government has also released Rs 245 crore for this work.