In first such case in two years in the district, Kapurthala police arrested a farmer for stubble burning on Saturday. Rawalpindi police have booked Surjeet Singh of Rampur Sunra under Section 188 (disobedience of public servant’s order) of the Indian Penal Code. If found guilty, the accused may get maximum jail term of one month or Rs 200 fine or both.
The accused was produced in a court, which granted him bail.
Deputy commissioner Jaskiran Singh said to check the hazardous practice of stubble burning, the administration has decided to register cases against the offenders.
FARMERS FIND MACHINES COSTLY
The accused farmer, Surjit Singh, said burning stubble was the only viable option he was left with. “The methods agriculture department wants us to adopt to get rid of and manage the stubble are costly,” he said.
Davinder Singh, a member of Doaba Sangharsh Committee, said majority of the farmers can’t afford the machines and the agriculture department is not offering any subsidy on them.
{{/usCountry}}Davinder Singh, a member of Doaba Sangharsh Committee, said majority of the farmers can’t afford the machines and the agriculture department is not offering any subsidy on them.
{{/usCountry}}Kapurthala chief agriculture officer Ravail Singh said, “The department is unable to offer subsidy on the machines. The machines available cost around Rs 2 lakh each. I agree that there is a need for subsidy so that even the marginal farmers can afford them.”
Also, the agriculture department doesn’t have machines to give on rent either.