Punjab: No option except burning crop residue, says Bhartiya Kisan Union

“We do not have any option except burning paddy stubble unless financial incentive is offered. The Punjab government should help farmers by giving Rs 200 per quintal or provide financial assistance on machinery, as per the NGT order, for the disposal of straw,” BKU (Ugrahan) President Joginder Singh and general secretary Sukhdev Singh Khokrikalan said in a joint statement in Chandigarh.

The statement came a day after the NGT had directed the Punjab government to produce before it 21 farmers which it claimed to have helped by giving incentives and infrastructural facilities to prevent them from burning crop residue in a bid to check air pollution.

“Farmers who are already debt-ridden are unable to bear the expenditure of Rs 5,000 to 6,000 per acre as expenditure on disposing of residue through environment-friendly measures,” they said. They also condemned the government’s action being taken against farmers who burn paddy stubble. “Rather than penalising the farmers, the state government should come out with providing financial assistance for farmers,” they said.

Acting tough against erring farmers, state authorities have penalised over 100 farmers.

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