On 7 Aug, Panjab CM Mann launched the state’s first carbon credit compensation program, distributing an initial installment of $211K to 818 farmers in Hoshiarpur. This initiative, part of a $5.4M pilot project, covers 3,686 farmers across Panjab’s Kandi region – the region between the Shivalik hills and the plains. The program compensates farmers for planting and maintaining trees on their agricultural land, contributing to CO2 reduction and offering an additional income stream. The program aims to address Panjab’s critical environmental issues, including groundwater depletion and soil pollution, by promoting agroforestry. This initiative not only supports environmental sustainability but also provides economic benefits to farmers, making it a potential model for other regions facing similar ecological challenges. On the other hand, in Mukerian and Hoshiarpur districts, a troubling trend has emerged over the past decade. The mining mafia has lured farmers into selling their fertile land to stone crusher operators and for mining soil, resulting in long-term devastation. Initially tempted by the offer of quick money — ranging from $10-12K per acre — farmers leased their land, only to see it turned into barren pits up to 40-feet deep. This practice has now affected nearly 300 acres in villages like Mehatpur and Pandori. Despite petitions and court orders, enforcement remains weak, and the situation continues to deteriorate, putting both the environment and the livelihoods of local farmers at risk. Mining has come dangerously close to residential areas, exacerbated by environmental risks from nearby hydel canals. Local Bharti Kisan Union (Ugrahan) activists and the Zameen Bachao Committee have organized to raise awareness among farmers and halt these activities, but the problem remains pervasive.
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