Punjab: Fine for setting fire to fields doubled, farmers angry

Punjab: Farmer organisations have criticised the Centre’s decision to increase the penalty under the Environment Protection Act (EPA) for burning paddy stubble. Sarwan Singh Pandher, leader of the non-political Samyukta Kisan Morcha, said the Centre has backtracked from offering Rs 1,200 crore sought by the state as compensation to farmers for stubble management. He said doubling the penalty amount is not a solution to the problem. The move is indicative of the vindictive attitude of both the Centre and the state government towards farmers. Prem Singh Bhanghu, president of the All India Kisan Mahasangh, said the central government has not followed the guidelines of the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court to compensate farmers.
Bhanghu said farmers do not want to burn paddy stubble. “Rather, farmers are being forced to burn stubble due to lack of any help from the government,” Bhanghu said. As per the new rules, a farmer owning less than two acres of land will have to pay an environmental compensation of Rs 5,000 against the previous penalty of Rs 2,500. As per the new rules notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on November 6, stricter financial penalties have been imposed on farmers found burning stubble in major states, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. Meanwhile, a farmer owning two acres or more but less than five acres of land will now be fined Rs 10,000 instead of Rs 5,000. Farmers owning more than five acres of land will have to pay an environmental compensation of Rs 30,000 instead of Rs 15,000.