Inspection on stubble burning: Punjab farmers take official hostage
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NDTV file photo.
Faridkot/Punjab: Farmers in Punjab held a revenue officer who was out there to inspect stubble burning for 24 hours. Farmers in the Faridkot district of the state demanded a written assurance that no challan for burning residue would be added to them and stood fast that they would only release the official after their demands were met, Asian News International reported.
The officer or Patwari visited the area to prepare a report of the burning after receiving reports of the same from across the state.
After he was taken captive, Kalnab Tehsildar and SDM Kotkapura reached the location to convince the farmers but failed.
Faridkot Tehsildar Anil Kumar said that their nodal officer gave a report of stubble burning. The Patwari went to the spot to inspect but was taken hostage by the villagers.
On Thursday, farmers in the Bathinda district of the state expressed their dissatisfaction that Chief Minister Bhagawant Mann and his government could not introduce an alternative for the stubble-burning issue. They had threatened that they would take officials hostage, if they and stop burning stubble.
"If any officials come to stop us from burning the residue on the farm, they will be held hostage, the government can impose as many fines on them, but we will not pay the fine," ANI quoted farmers there.
They said that they continue the practice because they have no options. Burning is not their "hobby", and the smoke and pollutants from the burning affect their families too.
