Stubble burning : Farmers detain pollution board team that came to issue challans

Farmers showed retaliation against the crackdown of state government and detained Punjab pollution Control Board (PPCB) officials at Fatehpur village around 15 kilometres from Patiala on Thursday.

When a team of PPCB officials went to Fatehpur village to issue challans, farmers while staging their protest detained the senior divisional officer (SDO), (PPCB), Gurkaran Singh along with a Patwari. Despite the team assurances that they would not issue any challan, the farmers did not allow them to leave.

“The farmers have no alternative other than stubble burning and these official harass farmers. We have been cultivating paddy since last 40 years and the state government has not provided any solution of this stubble burning. We cannot afford expensive technology of crop-residue” said Didar Singh, block president of Bharti Kisan Union (Dakunda).

Also read| Stubble burning brings trouble for farmers, 500 fined in 48 hrs

He further said, “We are not just talking about Fatehpur village, the teams are harassing farmers in the entire state. We will not allow them to issue such challans and will oppose anti-famers policies of state government”.

Farmers stage protest before the vehicle of Gurkaran Singh, SDO, PPCB in Fatehpur on Thursday. (HT photo)

“We are just following the orders of state government but farmers detained us” said Gurkaran Singh, SDO, PPCB.

He further said, “We have five teams in the district which have been raiding various parts of region. The farmers have to pay Rs 2500 for 2 acre and Rs 5000 above 2 acre”.

First Published: Oct 27, 2016 15:44 IST