HARYANA GOVERNMENT'S VIGILANT STANCE ON AIR QUALITY: STRINGENT MEASURES TO CURB PADDY STRAW BURNING: CS
Face2News/Chandigarh
Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal said that the state government is highly vigilant about the Air Quality Index and has implemented stringent measures to further reduce paddy straw burning. He informed about 38% reduction in stubble burning incidents in 2023 compared to the previous year. In 2022, the state recorded a total of 2,083 cases of stubble burning, which decreased to 1,296 cases in 2023, marking a 38% reduction compared to 2022. When compared to 2021, straw burning incidents saw a substantial 57% reduction in 2023. Mr. Kaushal conveyed this information during a virtual review meeting chaired by Dr. M. M. Kutty, Chairperson of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR, with Deputy Commissioners participated virtually.
Dr. Kutty commended the Deputy Commissioners of Karnal and Kaithal for achieving over a 60% reduction in farm fires compared to the previous year. He acknowledged Haryana's success in controlling farm fires but stressed the importance of close monitoring and stringent measures during the upcoming festival season to improve the air quality index.
Mr. Kaushal emphasized that the government is taking strict monitoring and enforcement measures to check farm fires, including real-time reporting of burning events by HARSAC and the deployment of district/block-level enforcement teams and flying squads. Village and block-level nodal officers have also been appointed to prevent crop residue burning. Moreover, the government is taking stringent actions against those responsible for farm fires, having imposed 939 challans with fines totaling over Rs. 25.12 lakh by October 31, 2023. Officers responsible for farm fires have been called to explain their actions and also suspended the erring officials.
Despite achieving a significant 57% reduction in stubble burning incidents – with the number decreasing from 3,038 cases in 2021 to 1,296 in 2023 – the state government remains dedicated to eliminate unsustainable practices like paddy straw stubble burning. This commitment is reflected in the recent notification, issued on October 30, 2023, introducing the "Haryana Ex-situ Management of Paddy Straw – 2023" scheme. This scheme aims to ensure the assured and adequate supply of paddy straw to biomass-based projects.
Mr. Kaushal emphasized that the government is taking strict monitoring and enforcement measures to check farm fires, including real-time reporting of burning events by HARSAC and the deployment of district/block-level enforcement teams and flying squads. Village and block-level nodal officers have also been appointed to prevent crop residue burning. Moreover, the government is taking stringent actions against those responsible for farm fires, having imposed 939 challans with fines totaling over Rs. 25.12 lakh by October 31, 2023. Officers responsible for farm fires have been called to explain their actions and also suspended the erring officials.
Haryana's comprehensive strategy includes both in-situ and ex-situ management, with a focus on categorizing villages into Red, Yellow, and Green zones based on active fire incidents. The state government is committed to providing Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines to farmers on a subsidy, with 19:41 machines already sanctioned for the disposal of 7572 machines to the farming community. An area of 940 lakh acres has been registered for incentives of Rs. 1000/- per acre, amounting to Rs. 90.40 crores, he added.
This holistic approach also promotes alternative cropping practices, offering incentives for diversification and the adoption of direct sowing of rice (DSR). Panchayats achieving Zero Burning in Red and Yellow Zones will receive incentives. Transportation charges for bales are designed to encourage responsible crop residue management, Mr. Kaushal added.
The state government is exploring the industrial utilization of paddy straw by identifying clusters of villages that produce biomass near various industries, with the aim of reducing stubble burning and promoting environmentally conscious agriculture. Industrial utilization of 13.54 Mt of paddy straw is projected for the current year, he added.
Mr. Raghavendra Rao, Chairman of Haryana Pollution Control Board, directed Deputy Commissioners to monitor mining and excavation activities and ensure that no waste is burned in the open. He emphasized the importance of sweeping roads and implementing government-enforced measures.
Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forest and Wildlife Department, Mr. Vineet Garg, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Health Engineering Department, Mr. A. K Singh, Director, Agriculture, Mr. Narhari Singh Banger, Director, Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Pardeep Kumar and other senior officers were also present in the meeting.