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JAMMU: Highlighting the growing menace of crop fires during the harvest season, JKPCC Kissan Congress Chairman Bharat Priye on Tuesday termed the issue a “burning concern” requiring immediate government attention. Visiting Chibe Chak in the Akhnoor subdivision, where fires recently destroyed standing wheat crops spread over nearly 80 kanals, he expressed serious concern over the recurring incidents that are severely impacting farmers’ livelihoods.
Interacting with affected farmers, Bharat Priye said that such incidents, particularly during April, have become alarmingly frequent due to dry weather conditions and sparks originating from overhead power lines. He pointed out that these fires often occur at a critical time, just before harvest, resulting in devastating losses for farmers who depend entirely on their crops for sustenance.
He strongly demanded the immediate deployment of additional fire tenders near agricultural fields, especially in vulnerable areas like Pargawal, where currently a single fire tender is responsible for covering more than two dozen villages. Calling the arrangement grossly inadequate, he stressed that timely response is crucial to prevent small sparks from turning into large-scale disasters.
Raising concern over similar incidents reported from border areas such as R.S. Pura and districts like Kathua and Samba, Bharat Priye said that farmers across the region are facing repeated destruction of crops due to short circuits, negligence, and stray sparks. He warned that if timely preventive measures are not taken, such incidents could further deepen the agrarian distress in the region.
He also urged the government to provide immediate and adequate compensation to the affected farmers, stating that delays in relief only add to their hardships. He emphasized that a transparent and swift mechanism must be put in place to assess losses and disburse financial assistance without bureaucratic hurdles.
Taking note of the role of power infrastructure in triggering such fires, Bharat Priye demanded that the Power Development Department (PDD) take concrete steps, including regular inspection and maintenance of transmission lines, replacement of worn-out wires, and ensuring proper insulation to prevent sparking during peak harvest periods.
He further suggested a comprehensive action plan, including the establishment of temporary fire stations in rural belts during the harvesting season, awareness campaigns for farmers on fire prevention, and the creation of rapid response teams equipped to handle emergencies in agricultural zones.Prominent among those present on the occasion included Suman Deep Singh, Kalyan Singh, Multan Singh, Bira Singh, Thoru Singh, and several local farmers, who shared their grievances and appealed for immediate government support to safeguard their livelihoods.
