No 'blame game' should be played on the pollution issue, says the Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday. He then highlighted the importance of finding a common solution by cooperating with the other states.
Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi after the paddy harvest in October and November.
As the window for the Rabi crop - wheat - is very short after paddy harvest, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue for sowing the next crop.
Replying to a question on Punjab being blamed for pollution, the chief minister stated, "It is also the problem of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana. Its solution has to be found by sitting together."
During interaction with the media aside from the event, the Punjab chief minister emphasised promoting crop diversification in the state to encourage farmers to switch from paddy to other crops.
He said it should be ensured that farmers get the same earnings from the alternative crops as they make from paddy.
"We want crop diversification. What we get per acre from the paddy, we should get the same from other crops like maize, bajra, and masoor daal. Paddy is not even a part of our staple diet," CM Mann added.
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