JALANDHAR
Calling for strict enforcement to ensure no stubble burning in Jalandhar now, Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal on Wednesday directed the civil officers to adopt zero tolerance and carry out joint patrolling along with cops in hotspots whereas SSP Jalandhar Rural Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar ordered all Station House Officers (SHOs) to step out of the police stations and keep tight round-the-clock vigil on fields.
Following the directions of Apex Court to stop stubble burning forthwith, the Deputy Commissioner and SSP held a joint meeting with all SDMs, DSPs, and SHOs in the district administrative complex.
Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal said that 85 % of the paddy harvesting had already been over in the district and we all need to give major focus on the areas where farmers have yet to harvest their crops.
He said that cluster officers were already moving into such villages and with the presence of cops along with them would send a strong message. He said that joint patrolling by civil and police officials would effectively deter the people from burning the residue. He clearly asked them to take all measures including preventive action against the violators.
Sarangal told them to hold meetings with sarpanches and later also conduct foot marches in the areas where harvesting is yet to be carried out by farmers besides public announcements through Gurdwaras, temples, and other places. He said that this would help in the effective monitoring and prevention of farm fires.
Later, SSP Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar also ordered SHOs to come out of the police stations for the next few days and remain in fields to ensure no one in their areas indulged in residue burning.
He said that as per directions of Apex Court, SHOs would be held accountable if any farm fire incident was witnessed in their areas, and they must give topmost priority to prevent any case. He said that SHOs must implement a beat system effectively to curtail the farm fires.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included ADCs Varinder Pal Singh Bajwa, Jasbir Singh, Major Dr Amit Mahajan, and others.