Red entry in land records may create visa hassles, says Patiala admn, farmers irked

The advisory has not gone down well with farmers who said that instead of providing alternatives such as in-situ machinery to them, the Patiala administration was resorting to hostile policies to curb farm fire incidents.

The Patiala administration has issued an advisory to farmers to abstain from stubble burning, stating that it could result in red entries in their land records, which, in turn, may create visa hassles for their kin.

If farmers fail to pay the fine imposed by the government for burning paddy stubble, their children may face difficulties in getting a visa as a ‘no-dues’ certificate won’t be issued by the administration, Patiala deputy commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney had said. (HT File)

Patiala deputy commissioner (DC) Sakshi Sawhney, during a recent media interaction, had stated, “If farmers fail to pay the fine imposed by the government for burning paddy stubble, their children may face difficulties in getting a visa as a ‘no-dues’ certificate won’t be issued by the administration. Therefore, we have asked ILETS centres also to advise students to ask their parents not to shun stubble burning.”

The advisory has not gone down well with farmers who said that instead of providing alternatives such as in-situ machinery to them, the administration was resorting to hostile policies to curb farm fire incidents.

Jagmohan Singh, general secretary, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Dakunda, said, “Our children have nothing to do with our actions. Moreover, why should we be punished when we have to burn paddy residue out of compulsion” He also condemned the district administration’s decision to cancel the arms licence of farmers who had set stubble afire.

On her part, DC Sawhney said,”My statement has been misconstrued. The intention behind the statement was that they (farmers) should not face any problem in visa or in the evaluation of land records. I never said that their visa applications will be stalled.”