Farmers defiant, won’t stop burning stubble

Sangrur : A confrontation between farmers and district administration seems imminent as around 150 villages in the district have passed resolutions to burn paddy stubble despite repeated warnings by the authorities concerned. The number of violators is rising every day.
“We have names and details of around 150 villages, which have passed resolutions to burn their paddy stubble. The government cannot stop farmers by issuing threats. If the administration takes any action, we are ready to give an appropriate reply by launching immediate agitation,” warned Bikramjit Singh Longowal, district president of BKU (Sidhupur), after a meeting of farmers at Longowal today.
Some farmers from Bhai Ki Pashore, Rattakhera, Gharacho, Ghodenab, Nagla, Chatha Nanhera and other villages told The Tribune that their villages had passed resolutions to burn stubble “come what may”.
“The state government wants to terrorise farmers by announcing a strict action, but it must think sympathetically as most farmers are already under debt. We cannot afford to spend more. How a marginal farmer owning just a few acres could purchase equipment worth lakhs of rupees only for straw management,” said Dharminder Pashore, BKU (Ugrahan) leader from Lehragaga block.
The farmers demanded that if the Punjab government was sincere in stopping stubble-burning, it must provide the required equipment to farmers.
“We are not asking any farmer to burn stubble, but they do not have any alternative. We are heading for a serious confrontation with the state government if it fails to heed to our problems sympathetically,” said Darbara Singh, district vice-president, BKU (Ugrahan).
When contacted, Sangrur Deputy Commissioner APS Virk said the administration would get FIRs registered and impose a penalty against the violators. “We will prepare a list of farmers who will burn stubble as per their land records and take appropriate action,” he said.