Stubble burning in Punjab

Law graduate Harinderjit Singh Gill, resident of Noorpur in Ludhiana district of Punjab state, has earned more than Rs 31 lakh from the management of paddy straw in the district. At the same time, he has set an example for the farmers around him. As soon as paddy harvesting begins, the problem of stubble becomes a big challenge for both the farmers and the government. Every day farmers burn stubble in the fields. Also, a case is filed against them. Not only this, they also have to pay compensation to the farmers for this. But, amidst all this, law graduate Harinderjit Singh Gill, resident of Noorpur in Ludhiana district of Punjab, earned more than Rs 31 lakh from the management of paddy straw in the district.

 This has set an example for the farmers around him and has also shown them the path to income. The farmers who are still  burning stubble. According to media reports, while speaking, the progressive farmer said that he had purchased a second-hand square baler worth Rs 5 lakh and 5 bales to bale approximately 17,000 quintals of paddy straw left in his fields after harvesting the paddy this season.

Earned Rs 31.45 lakh from paddy straw.

The farmer says, “I earned Rs 31.45 lakh from paddy straw by selling it to paper mills at Rs 185 per quintal. Encouraged by his successful stubble management, the 45-year-old farmer has now drawn up plans to further expand his stubble management business. The cost of one baler and two trolleys was Rs 11 lakh. After covering all the expenses he has earned a net profit of Rs 20.45 lakh.

Also read: Due to increased stubble burning, air in many cities has became polluted

Gill bought another round baler with two rakes worth Rs 40 lakh and a square baler with rake worth Rs 17 lakh to further expand his stubble management business, saying, “Apart from this, I have, the baler and two trolleys.” He said, “Now, we are planning to make 500 tonnes of round bales and 400 tonnes of square bales with the help of two square balers.”

How many acres of land does successful farmer Harinder Gill own? 

At present Gill cultivates 52 acres of land, out of which he cultivated paddy in 30 acres. At the same time, guava and pear orchards were established in 10 acres. Apart from this, poplar saplings were established in the remaining 12 acres. 

Happy seeder is used for growing wheat 

He said, “I have not burnt paddy or wheat stubble for the last seven years and am using Happy Seeder for sowing wheat. The farmer further said “Crop production has increased since they stopped burning stubble in the fields. This year he has achieved a yield of 900 quintals of paddy from his 30 acres of land. Seeing me doing this for the last two years, most of the farmers in my village and surrounding areas have also started adopting the same practice.

NGT had pulled the legs of the Punjab government regarding pollution and stubble burning. NGT  had criticised the state government for failing in following the orders of supreme court to immediately stop the burning of stubble.

National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Punjab and Haryana government to prepare a roadmap to reduce stubble burning cases in 2024. Tribunal commented that “you will forget about all this and next year you'll again burn stubble”. NGT had directed states to prepare a time-bound plan ( action plan) along with different preventive steps for the upcoming year. For the stance on Delhi pollution, the Tribunal scolded aur quality management commission just to implement and debard the GRAP. NGT stated that CAQM is working on its own. What is the work of CAQM? They just cancel and implement GRAP. They are never present in 90% of their committee meetings.

NGT showed disappointment regarding increasing cases of stubble burning. 

NGT enquired Punjab government before this about increasing cases of pollution and burning of stubble. NGT  had criticised the state government for failing in following the orders of supreme court to immediately stop the burning of stubble. The NGT showed disappointment to the Punjab government for not taking necessary steps to prevent stubble burning. 

NGT stated government responsible for stubble burning 

NGT stated it as the ‘complete failure of management’ and said, “ at the time when issue was raised, stubble burning cases were around 600 and now it has increased to a number of 33,000 cases, even on the facts that NGT and supreme court discussing over this and you are telling that you are taking actions”. NGT stated that ‘this is a complete failure of management’. The whole system is working and you failed. 

NGT enquired Punjab advocates 

NGT also called on the Punjab government to play a ‘ selective role in charging trials on violators’. Because the Punjab advocate said that he filed an FIR against only 829 people out of 1500 for burning stubble in one day. This is only one-fourth of the one day cases. NGT on this stated to the Punjab government that why similar actions are not to be taken against all of them? Meanwhile, in the increase in the level of Delhi pollution, the supreme court clearly directed haryana, uttar pradesh, rajasthan and Punjab on 7 November that burning agricultural remains should be immediately stopped and we can't let people die out of pollution.