Punjab to depute 8,000 nodal officers to keep stubble burning in check

CHANDIGARH: Punjab government has decided to depute nodal officers in 8000 stubble burning village hotspots identified earlier by the Agriculture Department. The nodal officers would be tasked with educating the villagers about the ill effects of paddy stubble burning to our health and the environment’s health. Other than this, they will also be keeping a strong vigil over the activity. Nodal officers would also hold interactions in schools, organise rallies and sensitise students about the hazards of the issue. Along with the nodal officers, coordinating officers would also be deputed in a circle of 20 villages.

If any farmer is caught burning stubble residue in open fields, they’d be marked red in revenue records by the officers with the assistance of the respective patwaris and thus will implicate no farm subsidies to the errant by the government.