Punjab: State’s demand for Rs 1,200 crore to prevent farm incidents rejected

Punjab: The Centre has turned down the Punjab government’s demand of Rs 1,200 crore for payment of incentives to farmers to prevent stubble burning. The air quality in Delhi-NCR remained poor during October-December due to stubble burning. “The Punjab government may consider giving incentives to farmers from its budgetary resources on the lines of the Haryana government for further control on paddy stubble burning,” the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department said in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court. “It is also pertinent to mention that the Haryana government is giving incentives from its budgetary resources, which include incentives of Rs 1 lakh to red zone panchayats and Rs 50,000 to yellow zone panchayats for preventing stubble burning, Rs 7,000 per acre for alternative crops in paddy area under the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme, Rs 4,000 per acre for adopting direct seeding of rice, etc.” “These initiatives have contributed significantly in reducing the incidence of stubble burning in the state (Haryana),” the Centre said.

Last month, the Supreme Court had asked the Centre to take an “appropriate decision” within two weeks on the Punjab government’s demand of Rs 1,200 crore to pay incentives to farmers to prevent paddy stubble burning. Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh had stressed that penalising farmers was not the solution to the problem as most of them were marginal farmers who needed to be given incentives. However, the Centre said the Punjab government’s proposal is nothing but a “copy of the same proposal submitted in July 2022, which has been reworded to declare that the expenditure will be incurred on operational cost of use of crop residue management machinery, such as tractor hiring, cost of diesel, cost of manpower etc. The department is already supporting the state government and funds have been provided with 50 per cent subsidy for purchase of CRM (crop residue management) machines by farmers.

Custom hiring centres of CRM machines are set up with subsidy at the rate of 80 per cent of the project cost. Paddy straw supply chain projects are also provided with 65 per cent subsidy on project cost. Funds have also been provided to the State and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) for adopting information, education and communication activities for mass awareness.” From 2018-19 to 2024-25, central funds of Rs 1,681.45 crore have been released to the State of Punjab. The state has distributed over 1.46 lakh machines and more than 25,500 Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) have also been set up. “During the current year, against the allocation of Rs 300 crore of central funds, Rs 150 crore has already been released. Thus, the state has funds of Rs 250 crore available with it for 2024-25, including the state share. As against these funds, the expenditure so far is very negligible. This amount should be spent by the state. Additional funds can also be given if required by the state,” the Centre said.