Faced with smog problem every year during the harvesting season, Haryana Government, it seems, has failed to learn any lesson that could have prevented the situation this year.
Thick smog, mainly caused by stubble burning, continued to envelop parts of Haryana and neighbouring States on Tuesday affecting normal life.
The smog even caused fatal accidents at some places in Haryana and nearby areas during the past few days. At many places, traffic on the main roads and highways moved slowly as visibility was low.
Keeping in view the grim situation, Haryana Government has announced that Government aided and unaided private schools will open from 9 am to 3.30 pm till November 30.
Facing backlash over Government’s failure to control the problem of smog,
Haryana Environment Minister Vipul Goel on Tuesday said given the air pollution from stubble burning, the Pollution Control Board has started a Statewide campaign.
Since the onset of paddy harvesting season, at least 1,011 farmers in Haryana were found burning stubble. The department has filed police cases as well as imposed fines on them, said the Minister.
By November 4, 963 cases of stubble burning have been reported and by November 5, 48 cases have been noted. FIR has been filed against 227 farmers in cases caught by the Pollution Control Board. Apart from this, 454 farmers were charged a fine of `11,89,500, said he.
Goel said that other cases are also being probed.
In view of the orders given by the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal, the Environment Department has taken a tough stance on cases of stubble burning, he claimed.
Over the past two or three days, there is a sudden increase in the air pollution, said the Environment Minister adding that not only paddy, burning the residue of any crop is harmful to the environment.
It is not only deteriorating the environment, but also reducing the fertility of the lands of farmers, said Goel.
He also urged the farmers of the state to support the campaign being run by the state and central governments to save the environment. The degrading environment is a concern not only in the country, but worldwide, so it becomes a moral obligation of the farmers to be a part of this campaign, added he.
In Haryana, crop stubble burning in both Rabi and Kharif seasons has emerged as a menace in this region, causing severe environmental problems.
After witnessing severe levels of air pollution in the national capital region (NCR) due to stubble burning in November last year, Haryana Government had proposed several measures to deal with the problem.
However, this year also, visibility took a hit with smog engulfing major parts of Punjab and Haryana during the past three days.
Both the Haryana and Punjab governments had imposed a ban on burning of paddy residue and the erring farmers can also be prosecuted by the authorities.
Many farmers in Haryana and the neighbouring Punjab, however, have continued with the practice, leading to health risks, causing damage to environment and adversely affecting the soil health.