Haryana government takes action against stubble burning; 24 officials suspended, 6 farmers booked

Haryana adopts stricter measures to combat environmental hazards

In a significant move to address the ongoing issue of stubble burning, the Haryana government has suspended 24 employees from the Agriculture Department, including seven supervisors and three inspectors, for their failure to act against farmers engaging in this practice. This action comes as part of the state’s efforts to curb the environmental impact of stubble burning, which contributes to severe air pollution.

The suspensions were announced by Rajnarayan Kaushik, Haryana’s Director of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare. He stated, “The 24 officials/ officers are hereby suspended on administrative grounds. The terms and conditions of the suspension will be circulated later.”

In addition to the suspensions, FIRs have been filed against three farmers each in the districts of Sirsa and Karnal. In Karnal, two farmers have been arrested for illegally burning stubble, further emphasizing the government’s crackdown on this environmentally harmful practice.

Deputy Director of Agriculture, Sukhdev Kamboj, reported that 16 incidents of stubble burning had already been recorded in Sirsa. “Three farmers have been booked, and five farmers have been penalized with Rs.20,000 each. The Revenue Department has also made a red entry in its records against the defaulters, which means their crops will not be purchased by the government for two seasons,” he explained.

In Karnal, officials confirmed receiving reports of 68 stubble-burning incidents. Rajpal Singh, Station House Officer of Sadar Police Station, noted that three FIRs had been registered and two arrests made, with one suspect still at large.

Farmers in Karnal expressed their concerns about the lack of viable alternatives to stubble burning. Shiv Kumar, a local farmer, lamented, “There is a shortage of machines to discard crop residue, leaving farmers with little option but to burn stubble.” Another farmer, Satpal, highlighted the financial burden of not burning stubble, estimating losses of up to Rs.7,000.

The government is attempting to incentivize sustainable practices by offering farmers Rs.1,000 per acre if they refrain from burning stubble and instead mix it with the soil.

The punitive actions taken by the Haryana government come in the wake of criticisms from Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, who has accused the BJP-ruled state of failing to address the stubble-burning crisis, which exacerbates air pollution in the national capital. Atishi pointed out alarming statistics, noting that while Punjab recorded a decrease in farm fires, Haryana saw a 23% increase.

She questioned the ability of BJP governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to match Punjab’s success in reducing stubble burning, attributing the progress in Punjab to the efforts of the AAP government. Atishi stated, “If AAP’s Punjab government can reduce stubble burning, why can’t the BJP governments in Haryana and UP do the same?”

The ongoing measures underscore Haryana’s commitment to combating the environmental and health challenges posed by stubble burning, as officials work to find effective solutions for farmers while protecting public health.

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