-No stubble-burning case reported so far in district, officials directed to maintain strict vigil for next three weeks
-10-15% paddy harvesting completed, DC orders intensified field visits, awareness drives and public announcements
Kapurthala, October 6:Deputy Commissioner Akash Bansal on Tuesday directed all Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) to jointly visit all identified hotspot villages in the district within the next week and intensify field-level monitoring to prevent stubble burning during the ongoing paddy harvesting season.
Chairing a virtual meeting with all cluster and nodal officers to review the preparedness for preventing stubble burning, the Deputy Commissioner said that although not a single case of stubble burning had been reported in the district so far but there was no room for complacency. He directed the entire administrative machinery to remain extra vigilant, particularly during the next three weeks when paddy harvesting activity is expected to gain momentum.
The Deputy Commissioner said that nearly 10-15 per cent of paddy harvesting had already been completed in the district and harvesting would accelerate further in the coming days. He said that this was the crucial period for preventing crop residue burning and all concerned departments must work in close coordination to ensure that the district continues to remain completely free from stubble-burning incidents.
He directed the SDMs and DSPs to conduct joint visits to hotspot villages, interact with farmers and local residents, assess the availability of crop residue management machinery and ensure that preventive measures were being implemented effectively at the ground level. Officials of the Agriculture Department, Cooperative Department, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) and other concerned departments were also asked to intensify their field visits and maintain close coordination.
The Deputy Commissioner directed Nambardars and Chowkidars to remain present and vigilant in their respective areas and immediately inform cluster and nodal officers in case of any incident, requirement for assistance. He said that the local-level machinery must play a proactive role in identifying vulnerable areas and taking preventive action before any incident of stubble burning takes place. He further directed that daily public announcements at the village level should be carried out to sensitise farmers about the harmful effects of stubble burning and encourage them to adopt scientific crop residue management practices. The Rural Development and Panchayats Department was directed to ensure that Sarpanches and Panchayat Secretaries remain actively engaged in their respective villages throughout the harvesting season.
The Deputy Commissioner said that elected representatives and village-level officials should undertake regular awareness activities, interact with farmers and motivate them to refrain from burning paddy residue. He said that the collective participation of village institutions, farmers, officials and local residents was essential to achieve the goal of making the district completely free from stubble burning.
The Deputy Commissioner also instructed officials of the Agriculture Department and Cooperative Societies to ensure that farmers get in-situ and ex-situ crop residue management machinery easily and without unnecessary delay. He directed the concerned officials to ensure proper coordination so that farmers requiring machinery could access it at the appropriate time during harvesting. He said that adequate availability and timely deployment of machinery was an important component of the district administration’s strategy to prevent crop residue burning. The Education Department was also directed to organise awareness seminars, competitions and other activities in schools to educate students about the harmful effects of stubble burning on the environment, soil health and public health.
The Deputy Commissioner said that students could play an important role in spreading the message of environmental protection among their families and communities. He asked the department to actively involve students in awareness campaigns during the harvesting season.
Deputy Commissioner Akash Bansal reiterated that the district administration was committed to preventing stubble burning and protecting the environment. He said that the administration was working round the clock and all departments had been directed to remain alert and coordinated during the entire paddy harvesting season. He called upon farmers to cooperate with the administration and make full use of the available crop residue management machinery instead of resorting to burning of paddy straw. He said that with collective efforts of farmers, village-level representatives and government departments, the district could maintain its zero stubble-burning status throughout the harvesting season.
