Stubble burning: Giving financial aid for farmers a tough task for Punjab

Amarinder Singh's government has already placed the state's Budget under tremendous pressure through farm loan waivers

Punjab’s precarious finances have put Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s government in a spot as it battles criticism over its failure to stop stubble burning — a leading cause of the catastrophic pollution witnessed in Delhi and adjoining areas. 

“We had asked for Rs 3,000 an acre or Rs 200 for every quintal of paddy so that we could employ more people to uproot the stubble after harvesting the crop. So far, farmers haven’t received anything. Instead, the government is asking us to buy machines costing lakhs of rupees at subsidised prices,” said Harinder Lakhowal, general secretary of the Bharatiya Kisan