Moga, September 28:
The Moga district administration has taken a big step to get rid of the pollution caused by the burning of crop residues. The district administration has provided 20 balers to the farmer’s worth Rs. 3 crore under the aspirational district program. These balers were handed over to the farmers through cooperative societies at a function at local Dana Mandi today.
Addressing the function, MP Mr. Mohammad Sadiq, MLA Dr. Harjot Kamal, and Divisional Commissioner Ferozepur Mr. Daljit Singh Mangat said that it is need of the hour to take steps to save the environment. He claimed that the balers provided to the farmers would prove helpful to them at large. He congratulated the farmers and appealed to them to stop the practice of burning straw.
Addressing the function Mr. Sandeep Hans said that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was providing all possible assistance to the farmers for the proper management of paddy straw. He said that in the Aspirational District Program Rankings released by the NITI Aayog of the Government of India, District Moga was included in the list of the 5 most ambitious districts of the country under which an amount of ₹ 3 crores was released to District Moga.
Deputy Commissioner Mr. Sandeep Hans said that 20 balers have been procured for district Moga to ensure proper management of paddy straw. These Balers and Reks are being given to the co-operative societies of 20 selected villages in districts including Ajitwal, Dala, Ghall Kalan, Khosa Pando, Manuke, Chand Nawan, Ghaziana, Badhni Kalan, Kishanpura Kalan, and Kot Muhammad Khan. After harvesting paddy in these villages, straw bales would be made and sent to the biomass plant. He said that 2 balers have been given to each cooperative society.
The Deputy Commissioner said that the money received under the Aspirational District Program was spent for the welfare of the farmers and the protection of the environment.
Chief Agriculture Officer Moga Balwinder Singh said that the Agriculture Department was working day and night to achieve the target of zero percent stable burning in the district. During the last few years, the progressive farmers of the district have been sowing the wheat crop without setting fire to the paddy straw and have achieved success, he said.
