Stubble burning: 22 farmers arrested for burning paddy straw in Punjab

In a bid to curb stubble burning to control menace of pollution, Ludhiana District Administration has arrested 22 farmers and registered 45 FIRs. A thick blanket of smog hovers over rrn plains of country mainly due to burning of paddy straw in fields of Punjab. Burning crop residue is a crime under Section 188 of IPC and under Air and Pollution Control Act of 1981.

Speaking about issue to a news ncy, Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said:

"Besides FIR's, PPCB filed 34 challans directly in court, 13 combines were challenged Rs 2 lakh each as Super SMS was t fitted on m, 243 cases with around Rs 8 lakh compensation were filed by PPCB, red entries in khasra girdawri's were also made, and 77 cluster teams were formed to check cases of stubble burning in district".

He furred appealed sarpanches to ensure that incidents related to burning of paddy straw should take place in ir vills. Supreme Court has ordered that accountability of vill sarpanch could also be fixed if he or she fails to prevent such fire incidents. Commissioner of Police Rakesh Kumar Agrawal, Senior police and district administration officials, SDM (East) Amarjit Singh Bains, Chief Agriculture Officer Dr Baldev Singh, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials and ors also carried inspections at different vills namely Khasi Kalan, Hawas, Sahibana, Rajool, besides several ors of district Ludhiana on Tuesday.

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Penalty for stubble burning

district administration had earlier penalised 133 farmers for resorting to stubble burning with minimum fine of Rs 2,500, informed Kaithal Agriculture Deputy Director Pawan Sharma. "Each defaulter has paid at least Rs. 2,500 as fine. highest fine imposed was Rs 15,000. se fines levied after taking stock of area of ir land. FIR will also be filed against those who fail to pay fines," said Sharma.

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