Paddy stubble being burnt on a area on the outskirts of Chandigarh on November 4, 2023.
| Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP
The Supreme Court on Tuesday mentioned the Centre ought to “seriously consider” the Punjab authorities’s suggestion to phase out paddy cultivation within the State and incentivise farmers to change over to traditional crops reminiscent of millets by giving them minimal assist worth (MSP) so as to examine rampant burning of paddy stubble and to revive a drastically low water table within the State.
A Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Sudhanshu Dhulia mentioned the Punjab can not go from granary to a digital desert.
“Punjab is seeing a scenario where the growth of paddy is causing the water table to decline drastically. A number of wells have gone beyond redemption. Paddy is not even consumed in Punjab. It is his (Advocate-General of Punjab) suggestion, that we believe correctly so, that paddy cultivation must be phased out and substituted with other crops. The Centre should explore the aspect of giving MSP for alternative crops,” the Supreme Court mentioned in its order.
‘Paddy not a native crop’
Punjab Advocate-General Gurminder Singh mentioned the State cultivates 31 lakh acres of paddy, and it was not even a crop native to Punjab. “Paddy was brought in by the Centre under the Food Security Act for use in the public distribution scheme. Incentives were given to Punjab to cultivate paddy. Farmers found it lucrative…. But now, we have to dig 700 m to 1000 m to find drinking water,” he submitted.
“Suppose we ban MSP on paddy from Punjab?” Justice Kaul requested.
“Then it will be an absolute one-day solution… Farmers will shift to other crops like millet and bajra. We need to diversify our crops. Provide for MSP on these alternative crops to incentivise farmers… There is no point arresting marginal farmers for burning paddy stubble in Punjab… And we do not want to pass the buck for pollution to other States, but we want to be part of a progressive solution,” Mr. Singh mentioned.
Costly affair
He mentioned it was not that Punjab’s marginal farmers are not looking for to use know-how to clear stubble, however they discover the machines on supply by Central funds too costly even after 50% subsidy.
Justice Kaul mentioned the MSP on paddy had additionally led to smuggling of the crop from different States to Punjab. “ Paddy grown in adjacent States is illegally brought to Punjab to claim MSP,” the decide famous.
The courtroom mentioned the “particular kind” of paddy grown in Punjab of which the stubble is a byproduct, the interval of cultivation required and the onset of winter season all contribute to the issue of air air pollution. Unlike Punjab, different States largely domesticate the Basmati number of rice. “The problem (of stubble burning) is persistent with the form of paddy grown in Punjab,” Justice Kaul mentioned.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta mentioned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had recommended utilizing biochemicals to change the stubble to fertilizer. He requested whether or not Mr. Kejriwal’s AAP counterpart in Punjab, Bhagwant Singh Mann, would undertake the suggestion coming from the “highest authority in Delhi”.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, for petitioner Arjun Gopal, intervened to vehemently level out that this was not the time for such “experimentation on our lungs”.
Justice Kaul mentioned there was no want to bask in a “political blame-game”.
“We need to diversify our crops. Provide MSP on alternative crops to incentivise farmers… There is no point arresting marginal farmers for burning paddy stubble in Punjab… And we do not want to pass the buck for pollution to other States, but we want to be part of a progressive solution”Gurminder SinghPunjab Advocate-General
