Following rampant violations of ban of stubble burning in the state, Haryana Government has now adopted a multi-pronged strategy to check this menace of stubble burning.

Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has chalked out a multi-pronged strategy including monitoring of incidences of stubble burning through satellite, education of farmers and taking punitive measures under the law. The State Government has also formulated an action plan for utilization of paddy straw, said a spokesman of the Pollution Control Board.

The spokesman said that the HSPCB has planned to give appreciation certificates or rewards to those officers or officials of Departments of Agriculture, Revenue and HSPCB, who perform  exemplary works on prevention of stubble burning during this season. There is also a plan to institute a separate award for the best contribution by any non-government organizations (ngos) or civil service organization or private individual, working for the cause.

Notably, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had directed the district authorities to constitute special teams to curb the menace of stubble burning, which is causing air pollution in the national capital region.

During 2016, till date, 48 cases of wheat straw burning have been approved for prosecution. Also, during 2015, the Board had filed 46 complaint cases against the violators in the Special Environment Courts at Kurukshetra and Faridabad, out of which 24 cases have already been decided against the violators and 22 cases are pending, said he.

He said that the Haryana Government had issued a notification dated September 16, 2003 under section 19 (5) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 prohibiting the burning of left over straw in whole of Haryana. The HSPCB is enforcing the same through its Regional officers and is filing cases against the violators with photographic and video graphic evidences in the Special Environment Court on a regular basis, said he.

The spokesman said all deputy commissioners have been asked to enforce the above provisions stringently and  issue necessary directions and statutory warnings to all the Revenue field officials like BDPO's, Tehsildars and Patwaris to instruct the Sarpanches and Panches in the villages for persuading and educating the farmers on the ban and on the harmful effects of such acts.

All DCs have also been advised to direct the Gram Sachivs and Patwaris to bring all the incidents of burning of wheat stubble or paddy straw and other agricultural waste in the open fields to his notice within 30 minutes of the occurrence of such incidents and in case, they fail to do so, without sufficient cause, it shall be treated as dereliction of duty and disciplinary action be initiated against them, said he.

While the HSPCB has already engaged the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC)  to monitor the seasonal rice stubble burning in  areas where rice is grown, it has now decided get the incidences of burning of wheat stubble monitored through HARSAC for 2017 in 10 major wheat growing districts of Haryana, said the spokesman adding that a daily report would be sought from HARSAC in the form of satellite imageries and other remote evidences on the activities captured in the state for effective monitoring and enforcement purposes.

Central Pollution Control Board has also been requested to share the satellite imaginary reports / data obtained from ISRO on a daily basis for effective monitoring, comparison with other states and implementation of enforcement measures, said he.

The spokesman said that Haryana Government has also decided to launch a pilot project for paddy straw based biomass power project. Government or Panchayat land would be explored for setting up of the project and storage of biomass

The power utilities will buy power from the biomass power projects on the HERC tariff or better tariff. And. the Agriculture Department will  support the setting up of bio-fertilizer plants using biomass and would devise a scheme to provide subsidy and to buy the fertilizer from such plants, said he.

He said that the State Government has constituted a state level committee under Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Agriculture Department and district level committees under the chairmanship of deputy commissioner to implement and review the orders of NGT for prevention of stubble burning in the state.