- DC orders police to impound both combine harvester machine
- Urgers owners to ensure Super SMS on machines
Sangrur, 31 October, 2019 :
As per guidelines of Punjab government and National Green Tribunal (NGT) and directions of Deputy Commissioner Mr. Ghanshyam Thori, two combine harvesters operating without Super Straw Management System in Sangrur district have been fined Rs. 4 lakhs. Deputy Commissioner asked police to impound both harvester combines.
In a bid to save the environment from hazardous gases produced from stubble burning, Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori said that no combine harvester is allowed operating without the Super Straw Management System (SMS) fitted on it. it is imperative to have a Super SMS on harvesting machines under the Air (Prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981. Mr. Thori informed that in the case of violation of Section 31-A of Air (Prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981 fine (environment compensation) of 2-2 lakhs has been imposed to Kewal Singh s/o Dhanna Singh, village Kularan, Tehsil Nabha, District Patiala and Balkar Singh s/o Sucha Singh, village Lander Peerzada, District Kaithal (Haryana). Combine of Kewal Singh bearing registration number PB11K-3447 and combine of Balkar Singh bearing registration number HR07J-5873 found operating without functional Super Straw Management System at village Ladda, Tehsil Dhuri, District Sangrur. Therefore, environmental compensation of Rs 2 lakhs (total 4 laks in two cases) has been imposed. Police has been ordered to impound both machines. These combines shall not be released till the fine amounting of Rs. 2-2 lakhs is deposited by the owner of the combine to the Punjab Pollution Control Board.
Deputy Commissioner Ghanshyam Thori that the Super SMS must be fitted on the harvesting combine, which cuts the paddy straw coming out of harvester combine into small pieces and spread the same on to land. With this method of harvesting, the farmers not required to burn the paddy straw, before sowing next crop. He said that Punjab government also providing 50 percent subsidy to individual farmers and 80 percent subsidy to farmer groups on the total cost of Super SMS.
Mr. Thori appealed to combine owners to ensure the Super SMS on the combine harvesters, otherwise strict action would be taken, dc added.