Issuing a series of stringent directives to the officials of the department concerned, Haryana Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on Friday said that the State Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to tackle the stubble-burning crisis.

While presiding over a meeting to review the steps being taken to prevent stubble burning in the state, Kaushal emphasized that there would be no leniency in dealing with farm fires, urging district authorities to impose fines and take decisive action against those responsible, including penalizing officers for laxity.

The Chief Secretary stressed the need for a collaborative approach, with the officers of agricultural and police departments deployed at district, block, and village levels to vigilantly monitor and curb farm fires. He underlined the significance of addressing both farm and industrial fires to ensure cleaner air for all citizens.

Expressing his concern for the environment, Kaushal stated, "Anyone harming the environment is an enemy of humanity," emphasizing the importance of taking strict action against those found violating anti-stubble burning regulations. He urged authorities to engage with farm leaders and raise awareness about the government's incentives to discourage farm fires.

Highlighting the proactive stance of the state government, Kaushal noted that unlike some neighboring regions, Haryana offers substantial incentives to farmers to dissuade them from indulging in stubble burning. These incentives are part of a comprehensive strategy to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

To further deter stubble burning, he directed that fines imposed on offenders be published in newspapers, including the names and villages of those involved. This move aims to create transparency and serve as a deterrent for others contemplating such actions. Kaushal emphasized the importance of delivering equipment to small and marginal farmers during field visits. This step ensures that even the smallest of farmers have access to the necessary tools to manage crop residue effectively.

He said that Haryana is steadily addressing the issue of paddy stubble burning, through a series of comprehensive measures that have yielded impressive results and the state achieved a substantial reduction of nearly 50% in active fire events associated with stubble burning across all districts between 2021 and 2022. Allocation of Rs 300 crore has been made under the centrally sponsored scheme, "Promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue," covering Punjab, Haryana, UP, and NCT of Delhi.

The state government has offered financial incentives, such as Rs. 1000- per acre for in-situ/ex-situ management of paddy crop residue, Rs. 7000- per acre for diversification of paddy area with alternative crops under the Mera Pani Meri Virasat Scheme, and Rs. 4,000- per acre for the adoption of direct sowing of rice.

The New and Renewable Energy Department has identified biomass-producing clusters of villages in proximity to various industries, in collaboration with the Agriculture & Farmer Welfare Department. Panchayats in the red zones that successfully achieve the zero-burning target will be rewarded with Rs. One lakh, while villages in the yellow zones reaching the zero-burning goal will receive Rs. 50,000 as an incentive. Additionally, transportation charges for bales have been set at Rs. 500 per acre, with a maximum limit of Rs. 15,000 to support Gaushalas.

Karnal frontrunner with an exceptional 68.51% decrease in stubble-burning incidents  

A government spokesperson said that Karnal has emerged as the frontrunner with an exceptional 68.51% decrease, plummeting from 956 incidents in 2021 to a mere 301 in 2022. Faridabad demonstrated remarkable progress, witnessing a staggering 66.67% reduction, with incidents dropping from 3 to just 1. Panipat closely followed with a commendable 66.54% decrease, reducing incidents from 254 to 85.
Hisar displayed significant progress, registering a 53.06% reduction, decreasing from 245 incidents to 115. Fatehabad exhibited noteworthy improvement, reporting a substantial 48.14% reduction, dropping from 1479 incidents to 767. Jind showcased a commendable 44.63% decrease, declining from 912 incidents to 505. Kaithal demonstrated its commitment to the cause with a 42.56% reduction, lowering its incidents from 1163 to 668. Kurukshetra showed promising progress with a 44.24% decrease, recording a drop from 538 incidents to 300.