Straw burning to earn farmers red pen entry, depriving them of govt benefits

Ludhiana: Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) has directed the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office to make red pen entries in the revenue record of farmers who burn wheat straw/stubble, said DC Pradeep Kumar Agrawal.
According to him, one entry has already been made. He said also in 45 cases, a fine of Rs 1.55 lakh has been imposed to the farmers who have burnt wheat straw.
The DC said PPCB is being strict this time and directions about red pen entry have already been issued to all the patwaris concerned. He said since it will be mentioned in the record that the farmer has burnt “wheat straw”, it will remain a permanent record and could influence future decisions as well. He said farmers with such an entry will not be able to avail government benefits.
PPCB superintending engineer Sandeep Behal said till May 16, 178 cases of wheat straw burning have been reported in the district and the sub-divisional teams were immediately rushed to the spot for checking. Out of these, the team had ascertained that in 10 cases, the cause of fire was something else, he added. He said an FIR under Section 188 of IPC has been registered against one farmer.
Agrawal urged the farmers to act responsibly. He said burning of wheat straw reduces the soil fertility, besides polluting environment.
He said several officials have been deputed to check the menace and also appealed to the residents to bring it to the notice of the officials concerned if they know any residue burning so that action be taken against the culprits.