The increasing pollution in Delhi-NCR is worrying. The stubble of Punjab is often blamed for this. In such a situation, let us know what is the truth of Punjab’s claim in Parali. The Bhagwant Mann government claims that cases of stubble burning have now reduced by 70 per cent. But beyond the statements, the reality is different.
In the special investigation of Aaj Tak it has been revealed that the incidents of stubble burning have not decreased in Punjab, but the NASA satellite is not able to detect this fire. The NASA satellite passes over Punjab around 2 pm and stubble burning in Punjab begins after 4 pm. So that this hot spot of the fire cannot be recorded by the satellite camera. Now the big question is how the farmers of Punjab found out about the time the satellite passed.
Burning stubble with the connivance of agents
So the answer is that nodal officers appointed by the Punjab government go from village to village and give information to farmers on how to fool the satellite, so that incidents of stubble burning in Punjab can be minimized. In Sangrur, Punjab, we met the president of the Patwari Union, because it is the responsibility of the patwaris to stop farmers from burning stubble.
Patwari named Vipin informed that the Patwaris who were on duty had only one message for the farmers: they should light the fire only after 4 o’clock. Farmers have to do their thing, those who don’t have to fire people don’t do it. The fire that needs to be lit has to be lit even after it is stopped.
Who pays the fine?
We asked why the farmers were ordered to light fire only after 4 o’clock. So in response to this, Vipin said that the satellite was not detected at that time. Measures cannot be taken against farmers, but against employees. So whatever the fines are, they have to be paid by the government officials, the nodal officer. If the farmers pay the fine, then it is fine. Otherwise, the person involved must pay the amount.
After this we met with the person in charge of the Sangrur Block, whose job is to educate farmers not to burn stubble, but he himself says that it does not cause much pollution.
After meeting these people, I understood that they also know what time the satellite passes and how to avoid it.
Dr Amarjeet Singh, agriculture officer in Sangrur, said the satellite goes out at 3 o’clock. The movement of satellites varies every day. He fires two bullets. First around 11 and then around 1. It covers entire Punjab in one to five minutes. We are working on a strategy so that even the snake dies and the stick does not break.
What did NASA scientists say?
Analyzing this, NASA scientist Hiren Jethwa stated that NOAA satellites pass over India and Pakistan between 1:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. and farmers may burn stubble after this time to reduce their activity. . Citing data from South Korea’s GEO-KOMPSAT-2A satellite, he said this satellite records data every 10 minutes and more fire incidents have been seen in the afternoon.
Farmers in other districts of Punjab are also following the same pattern. He says the nodal officer says to burn stubble only after four o’clock.
What did the nodal officer say?
I spoke to a nodal officer regarding this matter. He asked how many farmers had set themselves on fire. The officer said, everyone. The question then arose as to whether they told him that the fire had to start after four o’clock. The nodal officer said yes, everyone was on duty. When a fire breaks out, they go and stop it. So the farmers gather there. Then he says brother, you have to do it after four. Don’t put it on now…
We met a nodal officer from Bathinda. Who is a veterinarian by profession. Your duty is to prevent stubble burning. He revealed that not a single satellite has received data of hot spots in his village, where farmers have set fire to more than 100 acres of stubble.
The reality is that a lot of stubble is burned in Punjab, but satellites are avoided with the connivance of officials, so these incidents are not recorded in the statistics.
Report by Nitin Jain and Abhishek Kumar
