Kurukshetra District Fines 116 Farmers for Crop Residue Burning Amid Concerns Over Air Quality

In a move aimed at curbing the detrimental practice of crop residue burning, the Kurukshetra district administration in Haryana, India, has imposed fines on 116 farmers totaling nearly Rs 3 lakh. Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sharma revealed this action on Thursday, highlighting the authorities' commitment to tackling the issue.

Kurukshetra, often referred to as the rice bowl of Haryana, has been grappling with farm fires, which contribute to air pollution, particularly during October and November in the Delhi-NCR region. To address this problem, the administration is closely monitoring farm fires through satellite imagery, with the active involvement of the agriculture department officials in keeping a vigilant eye on farmers resorting to crop residue burning.

During the current season, information regarding the burning of paddy crop residue has been reported from 130 different locations in the district, according to Sharma. After thorough investigation, it was confirmed that fires occurred in 118 of these places. As a result, punitive measures were taken against 116 farmers who had set fire to crop residue, resulting in fines amounting to Rs 2.97 lakh.

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Crop residue burning, especially of paddy straw, in neighboring states like Punjab and Haryana has been cited as a major factor in the significant surge in air pollution levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region during the post-monsoon months.

Sharma emphasized that stringent orders have been issued to agriculture department officials to diligently monitor and take action against farmers engaged in crop residue burning. All officers and employees have been instructed to maintain a close watch in their respective areas to ensure that no individual resorts to this harmful practice. Immediate action should be taken against those found violating the ban on crop residue burning.

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As paddy harvesting for the current season is in full swing in Haryana, several reports of farm fires have been received from various districts. In response to this growing concern, Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal recently issued a series of directives, reiterating the need to prevent stubble burning and emphasizing that there will be no leniency in addressing farm fires. He also urged district authorities to take decisive actions, including penalizing officers for any laxity in enforcing these measures.

In a significant move to address the issue at its root, the Haryana Cabinet, on Wednesday, approved a policy focused on managing paddy stubble. The policy aims to harness crop residue for sustainable energy purposes and has set a target to eliminate stubble burning entirely by 2027. This forward-looking policy signals a commitment to finding long-term, eco-friendly solutions to the problem of crop residue management in the region.

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