Punjab Governor and Administrator UT Chandigarh, VP Singh Badnore on Friday said there was an urgent need to take more measures if the issues of crop residue burning in Punjab is to be addressed.
In his key note address in a day long workshop on stakeholder initiative to address crop residue burning in Punjab, held here, the Governor said that there was an urgent need to give options to the farmers to adopt alternative practices thereby ensuring proper disposal of paddy residue instead of burning.
Expressing concern over the emerging serious environmental hazards caused by the stubble burning, he said that it has not only damaged the health of the people but has caused extensive loss to the organic component of soil in Punjab. The Governor also suggested that there was a need to promote horticulture, fruit cultivation and cultivation of Mushrooms in a big way in Punjab to break the usual Paddy Wheat crop cycle.
Badnore also laid emphasis on formulating a comprehensive strategy including generating mass level awareness among farmers, providing available technologies at affordable prices.
The Governor has also offered to visit every district of Punjab along with the entire team of officers concerned to educate and motivate the farmers to stop burning the crop residue and go in for sustainable solutions.
Chief Principal Secretary to the Punjab Chief Minister, Suresh Kumar that the Punjab Government would constitute state level advisory group to design some immediate action plan to check stubble burning in Punjab and has urged the Governor Punjab to be the Patron.
He also called upon the Agriculture experts attending the workshop to work towards reducing the silica content from the straw and make it fit for animal consumption. Kumar also asked the Progressive farmers of the state to make the young farmers aware of the new emerging technologies in Paddy Straw Management.