Amritsar/Chandigarh: Officials in Punjab are taking the front seat in the fight against stubble burning with Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Jyoti Bala and her team successfully extinguishing the flames caused by the burning of crop residue in Wadala Johal village. Stubble burning is a significant issue in Punjab, contributing to severe air pollution, respiratory problems, and environmental degradation.
The ADC’s team, which included District Agriculture Officer Tajinder Singh and Punjab Pollution Control Board Executive Engineer Sukhdev Singh, arrived at the scene after noticing smoke and quickly called the fire brigade for assistance, according to reports.
Local farmers also played a crucial role by using their tractors to help control the fire and prevent it from spreading further.
In a separate incident, Amanpreet Singh, the SDM of Baba Bakala Sahib, extinguished another farm fire in his area, demonstrating the proactive efforts of officials to combat this persistent problem.
Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney underlined that officials across the district have been educating farmers on the importance of stubble management and fire prevention strategies, particularly highlighting the use of balers to maintain fields and minimize the need for burning.
Sawhney noted that the administration is not only taking action against farmers who burn stubble but is also providing necessary machinery to support them in adopting more sustainable practices. Teams from the district administration are actively responding to farm fires to reduce pollution.
Tajinder Singh mentioned that the upcoming weeks are crucial as harvesting will peak, with only early maturing paddy varieties currently being collected. Officials stressed the importance of vigilance against crop residue burning, as it poses a significant threat to public health and the environment.
Sukhdev Singh from the Punjab Pollution Control Board reported that the concerted efforts this year have resulted in a notable decrease in farm fire incidents, urging the teams to continue motivating farmers to refrain from burning crop residue.
Meanwhile, only 30 metric tons of paddy reached local mandis on Thursday, contributing to a total of 4,028 metric tons for the district so far.
