Rein in farm fires or face disciplinary action- DC to SHOs and cluster officials

Jalandhar News: Taking serious note of continuous reporting of stubble burning cases for the past few days, Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal on Thursday made it clear that SHOs and cluster officials will face disciplinary action even if a single incident of farm fire is witnessed in their jurisdiction.

      Giving strict directions to SHOs and cluster teams to ensure zero farm fire, the Deputy Commissioner said that show-cause notices would also be issued to them and a report will be sent to their high-ups recommending action against them.

      SSP Jalandhar Rural Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar ordered SHOs to remain in the fields round-the-clock.
       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 paddy harvesting in some areas including Shahkot, Lohian and few parts of Phillaur would be carried out in next few days and we need to keep major focus. He said that cluster officers and SHOs must show their presence on the ground which 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 besides public announcements through Gurdwaras, temples, and other places.

      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 prepare a plan with cluster officials to curtail the farm fires.

       Prominent among those present on the occasion included ADCs Varinder Pal Singh Bajwa, Major Dr Amit Mahajan, and others.