Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said he was happy that the Supreme Court had recognised the need to provide financial assistance to the small and marginal farmers to check the menace of stubble burning.
Even as he made it clear that his Government would implement the orders of the apex court as soon as it receives the judgement copy, the CM reiterated that the Centre would have to come to the rescue of the States, which were facing serious fiscal constraints. While the GST regime had stifled the financial resources of all States, Punjab, in particular, was in dire straits in view of its massive debt burden, he noted.
Reacting to reports of the SC’s directives to UP, Haryana and Punjab Governments to provide financial assistance within seven days to small and marginal farmers to ensure that they do not burn stubble to clean their fields, he said the court’s observation had clearly vindicated his stand that the crisis was economic and needed an economic solution to address it.
Though the SC had left the amount of incentive to be paid to farmers to be determined by the respective State Governments, it did take note of the observation of the high-level task force of the Government of India that the expenditure incurred by farmers on managing the crop residue in situ was Rs 100 per quintal, which is the sum Capt Amarinder has also been demanding, said an official spokesperson.