Not Right To Blame Only Farmers For Air Pollution: Punjab Governor

Ludhiana: Punjab Goverr Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday said it is t right to target only farmers for air pollution, asserting that ir problems need to be understood in order to resolve m.

Kataria also underscored need for ensuring crop residue manment (CRM) machinery to farmers in sufficient numbers in order to curb stubble burning incidents.

He was dressing a garing at international conference on 'Transforming Agrifood Systems in Face of Climate Changes and Energy Transitions' at Punjab Agricultural University here.

During his dress, Kataria said that it was t that pollution is spre by Punjab only as he was referring to stubble burning incidents.

Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for rise in air pollution in Delhi after harvesting of pdy crop in October and vember.

"Delhiwale may be saying that Punjab is sending pollution. But pollution is t coming only from Punjab. Today, we have so many vehicles which cause air pollution and we have to think about it also," said Kataria.

"Only (because of) stubble burning, it is t right to blame farmers. It is ir (farmers') compulsion as y have to sow next crop," said goverr.

He pointed out that earlier, re was a gap between cultivation of two different crops. "Earlier, (pdy) crop used to be sown in May and June but today it has been shifted to July and August. When crop is rey for harvest and a farmer has to sow next crop in 10 days, n where will he take it (straw)," he asked.

" Centre and you (Punjab government) gave (CRM) machines but se are t in sufficient numbers," he said.

He stressed that more factories using stubble as fuel should come up in state.

"Everyone is only trying to target farmers," he said.

"We have to understand ir (farmers) problems and we need to sit and discuss so as to resolve m," he ded.

goverr also asked PAU scientists to bring a change in cropping pattern. "I request PAU scientists to change cropping pattern to stop water exploitation and for increasing output." He said that until farmers are assured of better returns on alternative crops, y will t switch over from pdy crop. "He (a farmer) also tries to assess his hard work and he also has to take care of his family." Kataria also emphasized role of solar energy and proper waste manment practices for industries to mitigate environmental impact while preserving ecomic stability. 

(Except heline, this story is t edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed)