Bilaspur division has imposed ban on the stubble burning, usually carried out by the farmers after the harvesting.
The order stated that section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been imposed and action will be taken under it if anyone was found violating the directive.
Chhattisgarh is witnessing harvest of paddy. The state government will commence the procurement of paddy from November 15, 2019. Farmers generally burn down the stubble to prepare the fields for sowing wheat in some of the districts of the state.
The farmers of Chhattisgarh have started to use harvester for harvesting the crops. The harvester leaves a large portion of plant part in the field and the stubble is burnt by them.
The order of Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) to the animal husbandry department says that the burning, apart from creating environmental pollution, causes problem for humans, animals and birds, it kills the beneficial bacteria and other living organisms which assist in retaining soil fertility.
Letter cites if one tonne of stubble is burnt then three kilograms of particulate matter, 60 kilograms of carbon mono-oxide, 1460 kilo of carbon-dioxide, two kilogram of sulphur dioxide and 199 kilograms of ash are generated. It also destroys the sulphur stored in soil.
Meanwhile, Bilaspur collector Dr Sanjay Alang in a letter to all the Sarpanches of the district has urged them to make announcement in the villages appealing to farmers to donate the hay and stubble to ‘Gauthans’.
The letter urged that Sarpanches should motivate farmers not to burn the stubble. They can be motivated to convert stubble into fertilizers through advice of agricultural experts. The letter further stated that some anti-social elements intentionally leave behind ailing and stray cattle in ‘Gauthans’, which should be monitored. The Sarpanches were asked to provide funds from Panchayat to Gauthan Committees so that they can take care of cattle.