To check straw burning cases, state lays thrust on custom hiring centres

With the Centre sanctioning a ₹500-crore outlay under its crop residue management (CRM) programme to curb stubble burning during the kharif harvest season in Punjab, a significant portion of the funding—₹360 crore—will be directed towards strengthening custom hiring centres (CHCs).

- Gurpreet Singh Nibber

CHANDIGARH:

For the first time since the initiative was launched in 2018, this year's plan places a strong emphasis on strengthening CHCs that play a crucial role in managing paddy straw in Punjab. These centres are a unit comprising a set of farm machinery, implements and equipment meant for custom hiring by farmers. These provide farmers with access to machinery like straw balers and rakes, enabling them to collect and utilise straw for various purposes instead of burning it. CHCs are part of a broader strategy to manage crop residue, including in-situ and ex-situ methods, and to reduce air pollution caused by stubble burning.