Chandigarh, (UNI) Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian has hailed the union Government’s recent data on stubble burning as a moral and scientific victory for the state’s farming community.
Responding to information tabled in the Lok Sabha by union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh, which confirmed a staggering 90 per cent reduction in farm fire incidents across Punjab and Haryana since 2022, Khudian asserted that the Centre must now move beyond mere acknowledgement and release the state’s pending financial dues.
He pointed out the irony of Punjab being celebrated as the nation’s “food bowl” while the Centre continues to unfairly withhold ₹8,800 crore in Rural Development Funds (RDF).
The Agriculture Minister stated that the parliamentary admission effectively silences critics who had long stigmatised Punjab’s farmers as the primary source of North India’s air pollution. Khudian noted that for years, the state was singled out for deteriorating air quality in the national capital, but the Centre’s own satellite data has now dismantled these false narratives.
He emphasised that the significant reduction in fire incidents is a testament to the hard work of the “annadatas” and the strategic support provided by the state administration, adding that those who ran smear campaigns against the state should now recognise the scientific evidence presented in Parliament.
Highlighting the state’s proactive measures, Khudian disclosed that the Punjab government utilised ₹416 crore during the 2025-26 financial year to subsidise Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery. He further announced that the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government has significantly increased this commitment, allocating ₹600 crore for the 2026-27 fiscal year. This enhanced funding is part of a comprehensive action plan to provide sustainable, long-term solutions for crop residue management, ensuring that farmers have the necessary technological support to avoid stubble burning entirely.
Despite these achievements, the Minister expressed deep frustration over the prolonged withholding of the RDF, which has remained pending across several procurement seasons. Khudian remarked that the state has exhausted all avenues, including approaching the Supreme Court, to secure these rightful funds.
He concluded by reiterating that the historic success in curbing farm fires belongs to the farmers of Punjab, who have proven their willingness to adopt modern technology when supported. He urged the union Government to immediately release the ₹8,800 crore to reward the state’s efforts and facilitate further rural development.
