If PM can stop Ukraine war, can’t he stop smoke? Bhagwant Mann on stubble burning

As Delhi’s air quality deteriorates, the stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is back in focus. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, however, said that the issue is spread across northern India. Mann then went on to take a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that if PM Modi can stop Ukraine war “like they showed in the ad”, can he not stop stubble burning and subsequent smoke in north India?
“The issue of stubble burning is not limited to any one state. It is the issue of the whole of the Northern India. If PM Modi can stop the Ukraine war like they showed in the ad, can they not stop the smoke here? He should make all the states sit together, give compensation, call scientists,” Bhagwant Mann said.
Punjab has been responsible for the grey haze surrounding Delhi in October. Stubble burning, which is done to remove paddy crop residues from the field before sowing season, pollutes the air in the neighbouring state of Delhi.
Bhagwant Mann said that the farmers in Punjab do not want to burn stubble or even cultivate paddy in the first place. He said that the paddy cultivation takes place in the absence of MSP on alternative crop.
“ …When the paddy is produced the farmers are praised, but what about the stubble? Then they want to charge a fine… We don’t know if Punjab’s smoke reaches Delhi or not but the smoke harms the farmer and his village first,” Bhagwant Mann said.
The Punjab Chief Minister said that the state has been asking for compensation for farmers so that stubble burning can be put to stop, but the Centre asked them to encourage farmers against the practice instead.
“Encouragement does not work, practical steps need to be taken… We have given 1.25 lakhs machines. We have spoken to NGOs. Out of 75 lakh hectares of paddy crop, stubble of 40 lakhs is not burnt…” Bhagwant Mann said.