Show cause notices issued by Moga DM to PCS officers, BDPO, and SHOs

Moga (The Uttam Hindu): To eliminate incidents of stubble burning in Moga district, Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal has taken a firm stand, adopting a zero-tolerance approach. Show cause notices have been issued to various officials, including nodal officers, cluster officers, SHO-level officials, and even PCS and Block Development and Panchayat Officers.

Deputy Commissioner Sarangal revealed that the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, Ludhiana, has so far reported 105 cases in Moga district, with 87 confirmed fire incidents. FIRs have been filed against 61 individuals, and red entries have been recorded in their land records. Additionally, fines amounting to ₹1,72,500 have been levied on the farmers responsible. Notices have also been issued to officials in areas where fires occurred.

Officials receiving these notices include SDM Moga Sarangpreet Singh Aujla, SDM Baghapurana Beant Singh Sidhu, BDPO Nihal Singh Wala Rupinder Kaur, SHO Baghapurana Jaswarinder Singh, SHO Dharamkot Jatinder Singh, and several cluster and nodal officers from various tehsils.

Legal proceedings have been initiated under Section 14(1) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital and Adjoining Areas Act against Nodal Officer Pargatjeet Singh, from Village Kishanpura Kalan, in the CJM court of Moga. If convicted, penalties could include a fine of up to ₹1 crore, five years of imprisonment, or both.

The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the district's extensive efforts to curb stubble burning post-paddy harvest, following directives from the National Green Tribunal and the Punjab Pollution Control Board. Monitoring teams are active across villages, with both the Deputy Commissioner and SSP Ajay Gandhi conducting field visits to oversee the situation.

Alongside strict legal measures and fines, a district-wide awareness campaign is in progress. The agriculture department is actively educating farmers on environmental conservation and the benefits of soil incorporation of stubble. The Punjab government has distributed 7,401 subsidized agricultural machines to panchayats, cooperatives, and private individuals for stubble management, with accessible lists and QR codes at the village level.

During the paddy season, 146 nodal officers supervised by 23 cluster officers have been deployed to monitor fire incidents and promote awareness. They respond immediately to reports of stubble burning, and the use of Super SMS technology on harvest combines has been made mandatory. Checks have confirmed compliance, as no non-compliant machines have been found.

The Deputy Commissioner assured farmers of full support from the district administration and the Punjab government for managing stubble. However, he warned that strict action would be taken against those who violate the rules, including red entries in land records and fines.

To support these efforts, control rooms have been set up at the sub-division level to facilitate timely information sharing and rapid responses to fire incidents. These control rooms will also inform farmers about the availability of stubble management equipment and are staffed with police, cooperation department officials, and other personnel to ensure efficient operation.