Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Seeks Solution for Stubble Burning Issue
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has called on the Central government to find a practical solution to the problem of stubble burning. He emphasized the need for compensation for farmers as an alternative to crop procurement. Mann pointed out that farmers are forced to burn stubble due to the lack of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for alternative crops, which worsens air quality.
Mann highlighted that stubble burning is a widespread issue in Northern India and urged Prime Minister Modi to bring all states together to address it. He criticized the current approach of encouraging farmers to stop burning stubble without providing practical solutions. The Punjab government has distributed 1.25 lakh machines to help farmers manage stubble, resulting in a significant reduction in burning.
Meanwhile, the Haryana government has issued orders to register FIRs against farmers who burn crop residue and restrict their ability to sell crops if they continue. Haryana CM praised the farmers for complying with the orders and noted the Supreme Court’s commendation. However, the Supreme Court has summoned the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana to explain the lack of legal action against stubble burning.
Doubts Revealed
Punjab CM -: Punjab CM refers to the Chief Minister of Punjab, who is the head of the government in the Indian state of Punjab. Currently, Bhagwant Mann holds this position.
Stubble Burning -: Stubble burning is the practice of setting fire to the straw stubble that remains after grains like rice and wheat have been harvested. This is done to clear the field quickly for the next crop, but it causes air pollution.
Central government -: The Central government is the national government of India, which makes decisions and laws for the entire country. It is different from state governments, which manage individual states like Punjab.
Compensation -: Compensation is money given to someone to make up for a loss or problem. In this context, it means giving money to farmers to help them find alternatives to stubble burning.
MSP -: MSP stands for Minimum Support Price. It is a price set by the government to buy crops from farmers, ensuring they get a fair price. If there is no MSP for certain crops, farmers might not grow them.
Haryana government -: The Haryana government is the state government of Haryana, a neighboring state to Punjab. It is responsible for making decisions and laws for the state of Haryana.
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important legal decisions and can ask state governments to explain their actions, like in the case of stubble burning.
