Sukhmeet Bhasin
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, October 17
Farm fire cases are on the rise as 1,554 stubble-burning incidents were reported between October 8 and 15 in the state. As of October 7, only 392 cases were reported but the figure spiked to 1,946 by October 15.
Around 660 incidents were reported on October 15. Since then, Punjab’s crop residue burning information and management system website page is under maintenance and not showing any data of farm fires for the past two days.
No alternative
We are left with no choice, but to burn stubble because the state government hasn’t provided us with 50% subsidy announced in September. —Gurmeet Singh, Farmer
However, it is learnt that farm fire incidents are rising. The practice was delayed as harvesting was late due to a prolonged monsoon season in the region this year. Experts said the delay in paddy harvesting due to late rain in the region had narrowed the winter crop-sowing window that could lead to more stubble-burning cases because farmers would get less time to clear fields in the coming days.
The stubble burning also led to air pollution in the region with the Bathinda air quality index (AQI) rising to 217, becoming ‘very unhealthy’ and it is likely to deteriorate in the coming days with a rise in farm fires.
Data from the Punjab Remote Sensing Authority showed farmers were now resorting to fires in the fertile Malwa belt. Gurmeet Singh, a farmer, said, “We were not left with any choice than burning stubble because the state government has not provided us with the 50 per cent subsidy announced in September. We have spent around Rs 5,000-6,000 for burning the stubble on our own but the Punjab Government has not given us any compensation.” He said the time for sowing winter crops had come, so they must burn the stubble.
Shingara Singh Mann, state secretary, BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), said: “The farmers are also in favour of protecting the environment but the process of using stubble involves a huge cost. We want the state government to extend financial help of Rs 2,500 per acre and ensure eight hours of regular power supply along with providing farm equipment on subsidy.”
Sharp spike in farm fires worsens air quality
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