Ahead of the paddy harvesting season, Haryana Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora on Thursday directed the officers concerned to focus on ensuring zero-stubble burning in the State.
In a meeting held in compliance with the orders of the Apex Court, with Stakeholders regarding Crop Residue Management in which Deputy Commissioners of all districts, Vice-Chancellor of Haryana Agricultural University, Member Secretary of Haryana Pollution Control Board, Director of HARSAC, Executive Director of IOCL, Representatives of NABARD, MD of AAFC India, All India Agricultural Implements Manufacturers Association, Ludhiana Representative, Haryana Agricultural Implements Manufacturers Association, Hisar were present through video conferencing, the Chief Secretary discussed the problems being faced by the Stakeholders in Crop Residue Management and sought suggestions for it.
Arora was apprised in the meeting that according to HARSAC’s satellite pictures and reports, there was a decline of 68 per cent in fire incidence of crop residues last year in comparison to previous years.
She instructed all district officers to draw a comprehensive plan to work towards zero-stubble burning in the state effectively. Other than this, she asked the officers concerned to identify the villages falling under red and yellow zones, which do not have Customer Hiring Centres (CHCs) and are yet to apply for them.
She further instructed the officers of the Agriculture Department to focus on those Red Zone areas in the district which have regular incidents of stubble burning.
The chief secretary said that in view of the spread of coronavirus it is imperative to ensure zero-stubble burning in the state because many types of respiratory diseases are likely to spread due to increase in pollution in the environment, which can further increase the chances of spreading coronavirus.
It was apprised in the meeting that large-scale awareness campaigns have been conducted by using IEC (information, education and communication) activities such as village and block-level camps and celebrations, social media awareness and demonstration vans. Farmers have been trained to operate and maintain in-situ crop residue management machinery and a demonstration of in-situ management techniques has been given in their fields. Hoardings and banners have also been installed at key places by the Agriculture Department to spread awareness about in-situ crop residue management.