Some of the NRIs who have leased out their land to the local farmers are facing issues with the red entries following burning down of the stubble and the crop residue.
The red entries, which are especially happening around in Punjab, make the farmers ineligible for financial assistance as well as subsidy under several of the schemes that have been introduced. But, these entries are specifically made under the land records of the owners of the lands. The absent owners, especially the NRIs are fretting about being penalized and pleading their lease farmer to not burn the crop stubble.
If a farmer is found burning the paddy stubble and they have the land taken under lease from the Panchayat, chances are that the lease will not just be cancelled but also imposed with violation of prohibitory orders against the said farmer.
One of the NRIs, Baltej Pannu, who is currently in India stated in an interview with Times of India saying, “Several NRIs, settled in Canada, USA, UK, Australia and other countries having land in Punjab, are making contact in their native villages to know details about the penalty for burning paddy stubble. They also asking tenants not to burn stubble as it will cause problems for them in future.”
Pannu was not the only one worried about the situation. Several other NRIs have been frantic and trying to get things to work out and avoid getting the red checklist for the land.
Another NRI, who is based out of Toronto, Devinder Singh, stated in an interview saying, “I have given seven acres of my land on lease. Now I am worried that the farmer may burn paddy stubble. I have contacted my tenant and offered to bear the cost of managing the crop residue so that it is not set on fire.”
Sandeep Hans, who is the deputy commissioner of Moga said that many NRIs have already contacted him in a frantic state following the implementation of this law. He clarified saying that he has assured them to first talk with the tenant farmers to make them understand the severity of the rule and to nor burn down the paddy stubble to further avoid any further consequences.
In the meantime, the farmers who have failed to live up to the requirements have been fined with INR 2,500 along with the issuing of the challans as well.
