To enhance effective crop residue management, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department has sanctioned 21,958 Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines. This year alone, farmers have procured 14,587 machines, contributing to a total of over 145,000 machines since 2018.
Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Sunday announced that the Super Seeder has emerged as the most popular CRM machine, with 9,010 units sold. Other notable machines include the Zero Till Drill (1,383 units), RMB Plough (627), Baler (595), and Rake (590). Additionally, 620 Customer Hiring Centres (CHCs) have been established across the state to assist small and marginal farmers in accessing CRM equipment post-harvest.
Khudian said: “Thanks to the efforts of the state government, Punjab has recorded a remarkable 68 percent decline in stubble burning incidents, with 4,132 reported so far this year compared to 12,813 during the same period last year. Farmers are encouraged to adopt CRM practices, with individual farmers eligible for a 50 percent subsidy on equipment costs, while cooperative societies and panchayats can receive up to 80 percent subsidy. This reduction in stubble burning underscores the collaborative commitment of the Punjab government and its farming community to protect the environment.”
Moga DC Takes Action: Notices Issued to Officials over Stubble Burning Incidents
Moga Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal has adopted a zero-tolerance approach, issuing show cause notices to various officials, including nodal officers, cluster officers, and SHO-level personnel. This comes in response to 105 reported stubble burning cases, with 87 confirmed incidents, leading to FIRs against 61 individuals and fines totaling Rs 1,72,500.
Among those receiving notices are Moga SDM Sarangpreet Singh Aujla, Baghapurana SDM Beant Singh Sidhu, and several others. Legal action is underway against nodal officer Pargatjeet Singh for negligence, with potential penalties of up to Rs one crore or five years in prison.
DC Sarangal emphasized the district’s commitment to curbing stubble burning following directives from the National Green Tribunal. Active monitoring teams are deployed across villages, supported by a comprehensive awareness campaign educating farmers on sustainable practices. Punjab Government has distributed 7,401 subsidized agricultural machines to assist with stubble management.
With 146 nodal officers supervised by 23 cluster officers monitoring compliance, Moga's administration has set up control rooms at the sub-division level to facilitate rapid responses to fire incidents and support farmers in accessing stubble management resources. Strict action will be enforced against violators, including fines and red entries in land records.
