“No one blames the industries for pollution…” Wrestler Bajrang Punia on incidents of stubble burning

New Delhi [India], October 22 (ANI): Congress leader and wrestler Bajrang Punia on Tuesday demanded a proper solution from the government over the issue of stubble burning and Minimum support price for the farmers.

“No one says anything to industries that cause pollution, everyone just comes behind farmers. I think a proper solution should be found for the farmers’ facing problems of MSP and stubble burning,” wrestler Bajrang Punia, who is also the working President of the Kisan Congress said while speaking to ANI.

Commenting on the issue of stubble burning and the continuous blame game between the Haryana government and Delhi govt, Vinesh Phogat said that the parties must come together to solve the problem of farmers.

“Rather than indulging in this blame game, the parties must solve the problems of farmers for which they came out in the streets. If we stand with them for a good cause, only then will we be able to solve the problem,” Vinesh Phogat said.

Farmer leader in Ambala, Suresh Koth has criticized the Haryana government’s stringent measures against stubble burning, warning that the policies could incite further unrest among farmers.

The government has implemented strict penalties, including filing FIRs against farmers who burn stubble and denying the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.

During a visit to the grain market in Ambala, Koth expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s approach, stating that if the administration provided stubble management machines in every village, farmers would refrain from burning stubble. He argued that industries, not farmers, are primarily responsible for pollution, urging the government to address the root causes instead of penalizing farmers.

“The farmers contribution to pollution is just 3 to 4 per cent. The major amount of pollution is because of industries and vehicles. We urge the government not to show so much dictatorship towards the farmers. Wherever the farmers have not been provided with machines, there stubble burning is taking place. Huge amount of money is sent from the World Bank for the machines which is not given to the farmers. This dictatorship will not be tolerated by the farmers. We will not give a single penny as penalty,” Koth said.

On the ongoing stubble burning issue in Haryana and Punjab, Haryana State Pollution Control Board Secretary Pradeep Kumar said on Tuesday that the cases of stubble burning reduced from 7,000 in 2023 to 2,300 in 2021.

Speaking to ANI, Kumar said “In 2021, there were around 7,000 cases of stubble burning which has now reduced to 2,300 in 2023. Farmers are being encouraged and nodal officers are monitoring the situation to decrease the cases.”

Further, Kumar said that the harvesting takes place in two phases-early and late after which the stubble burning takes place.

“Some regions have early harvesting and some have late harvesting. After that, they do the stubble burning. There are several policies through which farmers are being encouraged to not indulge in stubble burning. At times, fines are also imposed if the farmers are caught indulged in stubble burning,” he added.