Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Himanshu Jain, exercising his powers under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Security Code, 2023, has issued an order banning the harvesting of paddy with combine harvesters within the Ludhiana district limits from 6 pm to 10 am. The District Magistrate stated in his order that with the onset of the paddy harvesting season, it is commonly observed that combine harvesters operate 24 hours a day to harvest paddy. Operating combine harvesters at night poses a risk of loss of life and property. Furthermore, many old combine harvesters are used for harvesting, which reduces the quality of paddy. Furthermore, owners of combine harvesters in the district have been directed to obtain an operational fitness inspection from the Agriculture Department before using their harvester combines. Super SMS No combine harvester should be used without permission, and paddy harvesting should be done within the stipulated time. The District Magistrate clarified that if farmers harvest paddy after 6 pm or before 10 am, legal action will be taken against them, and the combine harvester will also be confiscated.
Technical faults in combine harvesters also affect the quality of the paddy. Consequently, procurement agencies hesitate to purchase paddy, which not only causes losses to farmers but also directly impacts the country’s production. The lack of paddy sales has caused resentment among farmers, leading to law and order situations. Considering the above situation, the District Magistrate, Ludhiana, has banned harvesting of paddy with combine harvesters in Ludhiana district from 6 pm to 10 am.
