stubble burning :Haryana reports 95% drop in stubble burning cases, with only 7 incidents this year vs 150 last year, thanks to strict monitoring, nodal officers, and rapid enforcement.
According to data provided at a high-level review conference presided over by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Haryana has seen a 95% decrease in active fire areas associated with burning paddy crop residues compared to the prior year.
Between September 15 and October 6 of last year, the state reported 150 similar cases. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) claims that it has successfully reduced the number to just seven over the same time frame this year.
Additionally, “Parali Protection Forces” have been established in every area to guarantee prompt action against offenders.
According to an official statement, three of the seven active fire locations that were reported have had the proper action taken: challans have been issued, FIRs have been filed, and red entries have been made in farm records.
Two of the reported fires, one involving garbage in Faridabad and another involving industrial waste in Sonipat, were determined to be non-agricultural in nature, according to the study.
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“The state government’s extensive monitoring system, which includes the deployment of 9,036 nodal officers throughout all districts — exceeding the necessary strength of 8,494 officers — is responsible for the success.
According to the statement, “these officers have been strategically assigned to supervise farmers, with each officer responsible for monitoring 70 farmers in other areas and 50 farmers in red and yellow zones.”
Haryana Boosts Anti-Stubble Burning Drive with Mobile App, Trained Officers & CRM Equipment Rollout
According to the statement, deputy commissioners in every district have been instructed to use a recently created mobile application to guarantee that these nodal officers obtain the appropriate training.
Regular farmer interaction, residue management practice monitoring, machinery utilization tracking, and fire incident reporting via the specialized mobile app are among the duties assigned to the officers.
The statement claims that Haryana has made significant strides in offering farmers practical substitutes for burning crop leftovers.
According to official data, 51,526 machines have been verified as functioning, and 90% of the identification process for Crop Residue Management (CRM) machinery has been finished.
With a 94.74 percent completion rate, the acquisition of new CRM equipment is moving along at an amazing rate. Permits have been downloaded for 8,213 of the 14,088 units chosen using a lottery procedure, and bills have been submitted for 7,781 of the devices.
According to the statement, districts like Faridabad, Jhajjar, and Rohtak have completed projects at a rate of more than 98%, indicating excellent execution of the machinery distribution program.
In an innovative step toward sustainable residue management, the state has teamed up with the Panipat ethanol facility of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
An estimated 30,000 metric tons of rice crop residue from Panipat district and an additional 1,70,000 metric tonnes from other districts will be purchased by the facility.
In addition to offering farmers a financially feasible substitute for burning stubble, this program helps provide clean, renewable fuel.
As instructed by the Supreme Court and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the state government has implemented a zero-tolerance policy on stubble burning.
Weekly SMS alerts are given to farmers who have enrolled on the “Meri Fasal Mera Byora” portal, warning them that burning crop residue may result in severe consequences, including as challans, FIRs, and red entries in farm records.
According to the statement, all registered paddy-growing farmers have already received a bulk SMS, and further awareness messages will be given out every week.
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The state is carrying out a thorough gap analysis in recognition of the necessity for suitable storage facilities for paddy straw bales, it stated.
For storage purposes, five districts have determined that an extra 205 acres of panchayat land are needed. Districts like Karnal, Panipat, and Sonipat are anticipated to submit their proposals soon, while Kurukshetra and other districts have already made property available, according to the statement.
Instead of using panchayat assets, aggregators in Ambala have chosen to organize land on their own.
According to the statement, Haryana has established a standard for agricultural environmental management through its comprehensive strategy, which combines technology, infrastructure development, farmer awareness, stringent enforcement, and creative residue utilization.
According to the statement, state officials are working hard to keep up this record and guarantee cleaner air quality throughout the area as the rice harvesting season goes on.
The conference was attended by senior executives, including A K Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Energy Department; Vineet Garg, Additional Chief Secretary, Haryana State Pollution Control Board; and Sudhir Rajpal, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forests, and Wildlife.