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Punjab's Stubble Solution: How Bathinda Aims to End Burning in 1-2 Years

Bathinda's Additional Deputy Commissioner Poonam Singh has revealed that only one stubble burning incident has been reported in the district this season. The administration is actively working with farmers to promote sustainable stubble management practices instead of burning. Officials are traveling across the district to educate farmers about the benefits of proper crop residue management. With continued coordination between administration and industries, the stubble issue could be resolved within the next two years.

Key Points: Bathinda ADC Poonam Singh Says Stubble Issue Solved Soon

  • Bathinda reports only one stubble burning incident this season
  • Agricultural officials educating farmers about stubble management benefits
  • District administration coordinating with industries for sustainable solutions
  • Amritsar sees 80% reduction in stubble burning cases compared to last year
2 min read

Punjab: Stubble issue will be solved in 1-2 yrs, says ADC Bathinda

Bathinda reports just one stubble burning case as administration coordinates with farmers and industries to resolve the environmental issue within two years.

"The way the district administration is working, and if we continue to coordinate with the industries in the same way, the stubble issue will be solved in 1-2 years - ADC Poonam Singh"

Bathinda, October 20

There has been only one incident of stubble burning have been reported in Bathinda, Punjab, an official said on Monday and underlined the efforts of the administration and coordination with stakeholders in order to solve the issue in next two years.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Bathinda, Poonam Singh Bathinda, told ANI that the officials are meeting with farmers to make them aware about the stubble management.

"So far, only one incident of stubble burning has occurred in Bathinda. Our entire team is very active in Bathinda... Our agricultural officials are traveling everywhere to educate farmers about the benefits of stubble management* (as opposed to burning stubble)... The way the district administration is working, and if we continue to coordinate with the industries in the same way, the stubble issue will be solved in 1-2 years, "ADC Singh said.

Stubble burning has been a serious environmental concern in Punjab and other northern states, as it contributes heavily to air pollution and poses severe health risks, particularly during the winter months when smoke mixes with fog to create smog. The government has imposed a strict ban to encourage farmers to adopt sustainable crop residue management practices, such as using bio-decomposers or mechanised tools for residue management.

Stubble burning cases in Punjab's Amritsar reduced by 80 per cent as compared to the last year, Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, Sakshi Sawhney, said earlier in the month.

She told ANI earlier, "60 per cent harvesting has been done in Amritsar, because it is a vegetable belt, so harvesting starts early. Last year, we had approximately 378 incidents of stubble burning, and this year we have 73 incidents, which is 80 per cent fewer compared to last year."

Earlier, Environmental Engineer Sukhdeva Singh said that 45 cases of stubble burning were reported in Punjab from September 15 to September 27, out of which fire was detected at 22 locations. Environmental compensation has been imposed at 22 locations, and damages have been recovered.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
As someone from Delhi who suffers from terrible air quality every winter, I really hope this timeline is realistic. Stubble burning affects all of North India. The 80% reduction in Amritsar gives me hope!
M
Michael C
While the progress is commendable, I'm skeptical about the 1-2 year timeline. Farmers need practical and economical solutions, not just awareness campaigns. The cost of machinery for stubble management is still too high for most small farmers.
S
Shreya B
Good to see administration taking proactive steps. My uncle is a farmer in Punjab and he says the bio-decomposers are actually working well. More such initiatives needed across all agricultural districts. 👍
A
Ananya R
The environmental compensation imposed on violators is a good deterrent. But we also need to support farmers with subsidies for machinery. It's a collective responsibility - government, industries, and farmers all need to work together.
V
Vikram M
Only one incident in Bathinda? That's impressive! Shows what proper coordination can achieve. Hope this becomes a model for other states facing similar issues. The health benefits will be tremendous for everyone in North India.

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