Farm fire solution must go beyond legal enforcement, says Kataria

CHANDIGARH: Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria said on Wednesday a solution to the pressing issue of stubble burning and its impact on air pollution “must go beyond legal enforcement”.

Speaking at the valedictory session of Punjab Vision 2047, Kataria argued that regulations alone cannot effectively curb the widespread practice of straw burning. “The law cannot be the only answer to stubble burning,” he said.

“When the timeframe for sowing the next crop after harvesting is so short, how will the farmer clear the field? We need to find a solution that is practical, acceptable to farmers and favourable to the environment,” the governor said.

He stressed the “need for research” to reduce reliance on agricultural chemicals without compromising crop productivity, underscoring the importance of sustainable farming practices for Punjab’s agricultural future.

While talking about the need for rejuvenation of Punjab’s economy, Kataria said until the law and order problem was solved, investors would avoid coming to Punjab. “We have to think how to engage youth, so anti-social elements are not able to misuse them. Educational institutes need to improve their training so they are able to stand on their own feet. Employment is a big solution to many issues including drug addiction,” he said. Rajya Sabha MP and organiser of Punjab Vision 2047 conclave Vikramjit Singh Sahney sought the help of the governor to solve “certain issues” related to the state.

"Reopening of Wagah border for trade can help Punjab send its products to Central Asia. The lack of international flights from Mohali and Amritsar is a deterrent to the expansion of industry. We also need a minimum support price for crops other than wheat and paddy which can solve the farming and ecological crisis of Punjab," he said.

Rajya Sabha MP and environmental activist Balbir Singh Seechewal lamented the poor state of Punjab’s ecology. “We call ourselves educated but our output can be seen in our river, air and land. When we were less literate, our environment was much safer,” he said.

Seechewal also talked about the need for sewage treatment plants to recycle and reuse sewage water. “The national green tribunal has already ordered fines on cities which are not treating its sewage. We have already shown how this can be done at low cost by establishing stabilisation ponds for sewage treatment in several villages. The water so treated is reused in irrigation of farms,” he said.

The session on fiscal prudence saw IAS Ajoy Kumar Sinha stress “need to spend the money taken on loans from the market in fields that can lead to good returns instead of just paying salaries”. Chiranjiv Singh, former chief secretary of Karnataka, said Punjab can learn a lot from the southern state in terms of financial growth. “Karnataka already had a very impressive education system in the 1980s which offered the manpower that helped Bangalore become an IT hub. Punjab should focus on improving primary school education specifically,” he said.