Ujjain : A fire was breakout at a wheat procurement center of village Sodang near here on Sunday morning. No loss of lives was reported, but the procured wheat amounting to quintals is suspected to be destroyed by the fire. The fire rescue department was immediately informed the center manager Sajjad Qureshi, who reached the spot and doused the fire within time. The firemen and locals said the unchecked stubble burning of wheat crop is cause behind the fire breakout. Despite the ban on stubble burning, the bad practice of stubble burning is going unabated in the region. Stubble burning has been banned in the region by Collector’s order under Section 144 of the Cr PC. The major adverse effect of stubble burning is the ill effects on the environment besides on the health of the people notwithstanding, the menace continues unabated despite repeated warnings by the administration. The main reason behind farmers not stopping is the awareness campaign among them and the government is yet to equip farmers with economically viable methods to destroy crop residue.
During every wheat season, thousands of trees on both sides of the main and link roads and in farms get burnt with the burning of stubble. Stubble burning is not only injurious to health of humans but the process is also harmful for the farmers as well. Experts believe that several crop-friendly pests that save crops from harmful insects get destroyed in the fire. The heat generated by the fire also decreases the fertility of the soil by burning micro nutrients.
