Moga, June 15: Reacting to the news report “Notice to Nanaksar dera over paddy sowing” published in these columns on Friday, Moga District Magistrate Dilraj Singh Sandhawalia summoned Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Dr Harinderjit Singh and Agriculture Development Officers (ADOs) to his office in the morning.
He directed them to destroy the paddy seedlings transplanted on 4 acres of land owned by Nanaksar-Thath dera at Samadh Bhai village in Baghapurana subdivision, stating it was a violation of the directions issued by the state government under the provisions of the Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Water Act, 2009. The government has asked farmers to transplant paddy seedlings after June 20, warning them of legal action in case of violation.
After getting directions from the DM, the Chief Agriculture Officer along with his subordinates went to the Nanaksar-Thath dera and asked the authorities concerned to uproot the paddy seedlings themselves. “We are holding a dialogue with the dera people. We have apprised them of the legal complications but so far, they are not willing to destroy the seedlings,” he said. He was on the dera premises till the filing of this news report.
A notice has already been served upon the dera by the Agriculture Department asking it to plough the land and destroy the transplanted paddy within 48 hours or face legal action under Section 6 of the Punjab Preservation of Sub-Soil Water Act, 2009.On the other hand, it has been learnt that a Congress MLA of the area has been calling up officials of the Agriculture Department and the district administration, pressing them not to take any legal action against the dera nor destroy the transplanted seedlings.
DM Dilraj Sandhawalia said he had not received any report from the Agriculture Department so far. Legal action, if any, will be taken only after perusal of the Agriculture Department’s report, he added.
Source Tribune India
