Amritsar DM issues prohibitory orders on paddy sowing

Amritsar, Mar 21 (UNI) The declining groundwater table which is a matter of concern in Punjab has led to the issuing of magisterial orders prohibiting farmers in the border district of Amritsar from carrying out paddy transplanting operations before June 10.

The order was issued today by District Magistrate Kahan Singh Pannu under the powers vested in him under section 144 CrPC.

The order also prohibit sowing paddy nurseries before May 10 on all agricultural land falling in Amritsar district.

"In view of the urgency (of declining water table) this order is being passed exparte which shall come into force today and is addressed to the public in general and the farmers in specfic", the order stated.

This is for the first time such an official order has been issued in Punjab as appeals by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Punjab Farmers Commission and prominent agri scientists have failed to check the sowing of paddy in the month of May. The PAU has all along maintained that paddy transplant operations should not commence before June 15 if the depleting groundwater table is to be checked to a certain extent.

The state government has been under pressure from agri experts to bring out a legislation to put an end to paddy sowing before June 15. Farmers of Punjab and Haryana have taken to sowing 'saathi' an early paddy variety which is ready for harvesting in two and half months.

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