Punjab farmer unions oppose doubled fines for stubble burning, say Centre overlooks industrial and vehicular pollution

“By doubling the fine, will they be able to intimidate the farmers? I don’t think so. Even if they increase it by 10 times, farmers will not pay it. Fifty one per cent of pollution comes from industries. Has the Government ever inspected them? Delhi will remain a polluted city even if we don’t burn stubble. Why can’t they focus on things other than stubble burning? We are not keen on burning stubble but need solutions.”

The fine for burning stubble on land up to two acres has been increased from Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000, while for land of two-five acres, it is Rs 10,000, instead of Rs 5,000. For burning stubble on land of five acres and above, the fine is Rs 20,000, up from Rs 10,000.

Jagmohan Singh Patiala, general secretary of the BKU Dakaunda, said farmers should be compensated for managing stubble rather than being fined. “Diversification is the solution and not the imposition of fines on the already distressed farmer who is sleeping in mandis to sell his paddy. The Government needs to draw attention to vehicular, construction-related and industrial pollution as well, rather than focusing on farmers,” he said.

“Delhi’s air quality is usually the worst in January, when no stubble burning is done. So it is high time they found out the reasons for the poor air quality rather than punishing only the farmers,” he added.

Sarwan Singh Pandher, coordinator of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, said, “Farmers burn stubble out of compulsion, not choice, as the state government has not been able to provide even 30 per cent of crop residue machines. They are ignoring 51 per cent of the pollution, caused by industries, and the 25 per cent, caused by vehicles.”

Pandher also said the Government should clarify who polluted the Yamuna river. “This is sheer targeting of farmers to punish them for protesting for legally guaranteed minimum support prices,” he alleged.

Avtar Singh Tari, president of cooperative societies in Barnala, Sangrur and Malerkotla districts, said, “In Sangrur, a large chunk of land shifted from sugarcane to paddy after a sugar mill shut up shop. And now farmers are sitting in mandis to sell their crop. Instead of compensating the farmer and helping in smooth procurement, they are punishing him with fines. This is simply not acceptable.”

The reasons for the poor air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region include unfavourable weather conditions, vehicular emissions, firecrackers, construction and other local reasons also.