Stubble burning: Punjab to present 30 farmers before NGT

The Punjab government will present over 30 farmers on Friday before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in response to the latter's directive to produce 21 farmers incentivized to check stubble burning.

The NGT had on Wednesday directed the state government to bring before it the 21 farmers it had said had been helped through incentives and infrastructural facilities to prevent them from burning paddy residue in a bid to check air pollution.

"Not only will the government produce over 30 such farmers, the Department of Agriculture will also update the court on the action taken so far to manage paddy straw in Village Kallar-Majri, Nabha (Patiala)," an official spokesperson said here.

The detailed list of activities, which include installation of machines to farmers in the village, will be provided to the court, the spokesperson said, adding that the equipment was already operational across 67 acres of land.

The department is also taking steps in six other villages of Patiala district to facilitate

residue management and the same will also be apprised to the court, the spokesperson added.

--IANS

js/vdSent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.