MOHALI: The Mohali administration has banned the use of combine harvesters between 7pm and 10am. A ban has also been imposed on burning of wheat straw left in the fields after harvesting, said deputy commissioner Girish Dayalan.
He said, “Farmers operate combine harvesters round-the-clock and it has been observed that during night raw crop is harvested, which is full of moisture. Later, farmers face problems during procurement. Besides, pollution-causing stubble burning has also been banned.”
The Mohali administration has also imposed an environmental compensation fine of Rs 50,000 on a farmer found operating a combine harvester without super straw management system (Super SMS). The combine harvester machine of the farmer was also impounded.
The DC said, “Amid the coronavirus pandemic, it has become all the more important to check stubble burning as polluted air may put people with co-morbidities at higher risk. Farmers and combine operators must resort to stubble management practices by adopting new hi-tech technologies.”
Super SMS attached with the combine chops the straw into minute pieces, making it easier for other machines to operate in the fields. It has the potential to do away with the stubble burning trend as other machines can directly sow seedlings while ploughing the existing residue in the field.
Farmers not happy with decision
Many small-time farmers are not happy with the decision of banning the use of combine harvesters during night. They said they get the machine only after owners have harvested their produce.
Jasbir Singh, Kultar Singh, Mohinder Singh and Prem Singh, farmers from Mullanpur, Jayanti Majri, Parch and other villages, have small land holdings. They said they could not afford to buy combine harvesters with super seeders. So, they take machines on rent and these are available only during night. “Banning of harvesters at night will waste our time, leading to overripening of the crop,” they said.