Farmers burning stubble will be refused panchayat land on lease

Punjab Geography and Environment

To discourage farmers from burning stubble, Punjab’s Agriculture Department has written to the Department of Rural Development and Panchayats not to lease out panchayat land to farmers who continue to violate the ban on the unhealthy practice.
Secretary Agriculture Kahan Singh Pannu said 1.37 lakh acres of panchayat land is under agriculture where the menace could be averted through strict compliance of government orders issued under the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
The Panchayat Department has been asked to issue requisite directions in this regard, making it clear that farmers cultivating panchayat land may be disqualified from the bidding process during the next auction, if they persisted with stubble-burning.
Referring to the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev, Pannu said: “It is our duty to keep environment safe and healthy on this pious occasion as millions of devotees from across the globe will be visiting religious places associated with first Sikh Guru in different parts of the state. In reverence to this historic event, farmers should refrain from burning paddy straw.”
Also the Agriculture Department had already ordered impounding combine harvester machines functioning without the Super Straw Management System.