The higher courts of the country and the National Green Tribunal have also taken cognizance of the matter, he further observed. "However, what is probably not being understood in proper perspective is that a problem which is essentially scientific and economic cannot be tackled through other means, including coercion," he said. Scientific management and disposal of paddy straw entails significant cost for the farmer and he naturally prefers the cheaper and easy solution of burning the crop residue, said Amarinder. He added that there are at present no technical or biological systems for managing this farm operation that are economically attractive to the farmer.He called upon the Prime Minister to get the matter examined on priority and announce a compensation of cost management of crop residue @ Rs 100 per quintal on wheat (above MSP), and later for paddy to incentivize farmers not to burn their crop residue. This could be released by way of Direct Benefit Transfer to farmers after due verification.

Source: Times of India November 09, 2017 13:38 UTC