Maharajganj leads UP in stubble burning with 380 incidents; authorities suspend staff, levy fines, and push awareness drives.

According to officials on Tuesday, the Maharajganj administration has suspended nine lekhpals for suspected incompetence related to the ongoing increase in stubble burning instances.

According to them, the deputy director of agriculture, the station house officials of several police stations, and the subdivisional officers of four tehsils have also received show-cause notices.

Several local chiefs have also received notices.

Officials claim that 40 combine harvesters who were discovered to be in violation of paddy-cutting regulations were taken into custody and fined several lakhs of rupees.

With 380 occurrences reported so far, Maharajganj leads Uttar Pradesh in stubble burning events.

Officials said the anticipated drop in cases has not materialized despite increased enforcement and awareness initiatives.

Given the risks to the environment and public health, District Magistrate Santosh Kumar Sharma has been meeting with officials every day to discuss ways to stop the practice.

In order to educate farmers about the risks associated with burning crop debris, he has also been traveling to villages.

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According to Sharma, almost 90% of the district’s farmers cultivate paddy, and these regions are where most reports of stubble burning come from.

Several people have already been the target of action, and fines of around Rs 16 lakh have been levied.

The administration stated that severe action and the awareness campaign would both continue in the days ahead.