Haryana’s Environment Department has initiated action to prevent the burning of wheat residue in the fields and so far, 35 cases have been registered in the State and a penalty of Rs 27,500 has been imposed on the farmers engaged in burning of crop residues.
Action is being taken by the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Haryana, in compliance with the instructions of the National Green Tribunal, Delhi.
State Environment Minister, Vipul Goel, has asked officers of the department to keep pollution under control. This year, fewer cases of burning of wheat residue have been reported as compared to last year. The department has so far caught nine cases in Jind, 13 in Sonepat, 11 in Palwal and one each in Panipat Gurugram.
He said generally, incidents of burning of wheat happened in the month of May. The farmers are being made aware about air pollution caused by the burning of crop residue.
Goel said 1,147 cases of burning of wheat remains were reported last year in which Hisar, Jind, Karnal, Sirsa and Sonipat were ahead with burning cases of 201, 117, 251, 174 and 193 respectively. Not a single case has been reported so far from Hisar, Karnal and Sirsa this year, he added.
He said that due to strictness, cases of burning of wheat remains are continuously decreasing. last year, action was taken against 3,319 farmers in the state out of which police cases were registered against 236 farmers and fine of Rs 38,12,500 was imposed on 1,422 farmers.