In its ongoing efforts to combat stubble burning, the Haryana government has escalated its actions against offenders. Officials reported that 939 challans have been issued, resulting in fines totaling over Rs 25.12 lakh. The state remains unwavering in its commitment to eradicating crop residue burning entirely, and the results are promising, with a notable 38 percent reduction in such incidents during the current harvesting season compared to the previous year,PTI reported.
Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal emphasized the government's vigilance regarding the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the state. Stringent measures have been implemented to further curtail paddy straw burning, especially in areas where air quality indices have recently fallen into the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories.
During a virtual meeting, Kaushal highlighted the significant progress, reporting a 38 percent reduction in stubble burning incidents for 2023 compared to the previous year. This review meeting was chaired by M M Kutty, the chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR.
The commendable progress is evident in the numbers as well. Haryana recorded 2,083 cases of stubble burning last year, which has decreased to 1,296 cases in 2023. This represents a substantial 57% reduction compared to 2021. At the review meeting, deputy commissioners virtually participated, with Kutty commending the notable achievements of Karnal and Kaithal, where farm fires reduced by over 60% compared to the previous year.
While acknowledging Haryana's successes, Kutty stressed the importance of continued vigilance and stringent measures, particularly as the festival season approaches, to ensure improvements in the air quality index.
The Haryana government introduced the 'Haryana Ex-situ Management of Paddy Straw – 2023' scheme, aimed at ensuring an adequate supply of paddy straw to biomass-based projects. The government is actively monitoring and enforcing measures to curb farm fires, using real-time reporting by the Haryana Space Applications Centre, district/block-level enforcement teams, and flying squads.
The appointment of village and block-level nodal officers aims to prevent crop residue burning effectively. The government's strict actions, including the imposition of fines, send a clear message to those responsible for farm fires.
Haryana's comprehensive strategy involves both in-situ and ex-situ management of crop residue, with an emphasis on categorizing villages into red, yellow, and green zones based on active fire incidents. The state government is also committed to providing Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines to farmers with incentives for diversification and the adoption of direct sowing of rice.
Panchayats achieving zero burning in red and yellow zones will receive incentives, and transportation charges for bales aim to encourage responsible crop residue management. Additionally, the government is exploring industrial utilization of paddy straw in collaboration with clusters of villages near various industries, with a projected utilization of 13.54 metric tonnes for the current year.
Haryana Pollution Control Board chairman Raghavendra Rao directed deputy commissioners to monitor mining and excavation activities, emphasizing the importance of preventing open waste burning and ensuring the implementation of government-enforced measures. The state's holistic approach promotes environmentally conscious agriculture and a sustainable solution to stubble burning.
