Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Wednesday said “farmers cannot be expected to give up crop residue burning completely” unless they are provided viable solutions.
The statement comes on a day when Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss air pollution and stubble burning.
Long-term solution
Asserting that a long-term solution was needed to curb stubble burning, Capt. Singh said the State government was looking for affordable solutions. Farmers of Punjab and Haryana have been blamed for the rising air pollution level, triggered by stubble burning, in northern States including Delhi.
“We are spreading awareness among farmers on the need to stop burning stubble, however, till we are able to offer them viable solutions, we cannot expect them to give up burning crop residue since it’s a matter of their livelihood and survival,” Capt. Singh said.
The Punjab CM has refused to meet Mr. Kejriwal after the latter sought a meeting with him in Chandigarh.
