Registering cases over stubble burning won't solve issue: Avinash Rai Khanna

Former Punjab BJP state president Avinash Rai Khanna has objected to the AAP government's attitude regarding the issue of stubble burning. He said that registering cases against farmers, imposing heavy fines, and making red entries in land records is not the solution to this problem.

According to Avinash Rai Khanna, farmers are already suffering losses due to increased agricultural input costs and natural calamities. In such circumstances, imposing fines on them and taking police action is not right. He demanded that the government should hold talks with farmer unions and find a practical way out.

He appealed to the government to provide timely machinery, subsidies, diesel, and financial assistance to farmers for managing stubble. Arrangements should be made to provide tools like balers, happy seeders, and super seeders on rent at the village level for the convenience of small and marginal farmers.

On the other hand, a high-level team of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) visited Sangrur, Patiala, and Malerkotla districts to review stubble management. The team asked various departments to keep an eye on stubble burning incidents and ensure ground-level work according to set targets.

During this visit, the team also inspected a duplex board and paper manufacturing unit in Malerkotla, where paddy straw is used as fuel in the boiler. Industry representatives stated that this unit will consume approximately 17,000 metric tonnes of stubble annually.

Key developments

• Avinash Rai Khanna condemned FIRs, fines, and red entries against farmers
• BJP leader demanded machinery, diesel, and financial aid for small farmers at village level
• CAQM team reviewed stubble management in Sangrur, Patiala, and Malerkotla
• Malerkotla paper unit to use about 17,000 metric tonnes of stubble annually as fuel