To prevent burning of crop residues in the current harvest season, the Haryana Government has directed the district level committees constituted for this purpose to monitor the incidents of crop residue burning through satellite images and submit a daily report in this regard to the headquarters.
Besides, the Committees have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and register cases against violators of this Act in special environment courts along with photographic and videographic evidence.
Haryana Principal Secretary, Environment Department-cum-Chairman, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), Shrikant Walgad on Tuesday reviewed the action plans of District level Committees constituted by the State Government for prevention of burning of crop residues. He held a video-conference of Deputy Commissioners of all districts on the issue.
During the conference, the Principal Secretary reviewed the action plans prepared by all District level Committees, comprising as members officials of Departments of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Development and Panchayats, Revenue and Disaster Management, Police and Pollution Control Board. The Deputy Commissioners spelt out their plans for achieving the objective of prevention of burning of crop residues in the current harvest season, which has just started.
During the meeting, it was informed that a multi-media campaign would be launched in all districts of the state, under which the district administrations would conduct workshops, competitions and rallies, apart from making preventive and educative efforts. The Principal Secretary was apprised of the proposals of the District Administrations to conduct campaigns, workshops, competitions, rallies and other preventive and educative efforts to counter the menace.
The State Government has decided that these campaigns would focus on the adverse impact of the practice of burning of agricultural residues on air quality and public health.
It was also informed that while the air quality was being monitored through Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations of the Pollution Control Board on a continuous basis, the incidences were monitored electronically and remotely through satellite images. Haryana Remote Space Application Centre (HARSAC) has been engaged for this purpose.
Walgad also directed the Deputy Commissioners to gear up their field machinery to monitor the incidences of crop residue burning. He expressed satisfaction over the preparedness of the teams and hoped that there would be a huge reduction in burning of crop residues this year.
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, he said.