Stubble burning ban goes up in smoke

KARNAL: Despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal and state government on stubble burning, farmers in Karnal and Kurukshetra districts are on top among violators, according to data jointly collected by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Agriculture Department and Revenue Department.

Stubble burning continues in Karnal despite ban. Tribune photo: Sayeed Ahmed

Parveen Arora

Tribune News Service

Karnal, October 17

Despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal and state government on stubble burning, farmers in Karnal and Kurukshetra districts are on top among violators, according to data jointly collected by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Agriculture Department and Revenue Department.

Violations are rampant even though Section 144 of the CrPC has been enforced and directions for strict action against violators issued by the government.

As many as 518 cases of stubble burning have been reported till October 13, with 206 cases having been identified in Karnal district and 149 in Karnal, said Virender Punia, SDO, Haryana State Pollution Control Board.

Of the rest, 71 cases have been reported in Kaithal district, 20 in Sonepat, 18 each in Panipat, Sirsa and Jind districts, 10 in Palwal, four in Panchkula, three in Yamunanagar and one case in Ambala district, he added.

As many as 118 FIRs have been registered in Karnal district, while 14 FIRs in Sonepat district, he maintained. The Agriculture Department has collected a fine of Rs 4.87 lakh in 183 violation cases so far. Of this, Rs 1.47, 500 has been collected in Karnal district, Rs 1,29,500 in Kaithal, Rs 1,25,000 in Kurukshetra, Rs 45,000 in Panipat, Rs 25,000 in Palwal and Rs 15,000 in Sonepat.

The Bhartiya Kisan Union has been protesting strictness of district administrations over stubble burning and has threatened to burn the crop residue in the open. Led by state president Rattan Mann, they had protested in Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Karnal recently.

Mann said it was not viable for farmers to manage stubble in the fields as they did not have the latest equipment. He said it was difficult for them to manage stubble and prepare land for the next crop at the same time.

An official said the government had banned stubble burning to curb the increasing pollution in Haryana, Delhi and the NCR. He said farmers violating the order have been warned of strict action.

Cases reported

71 cases of stubble burning have been reported in Kaithal district, 20 in Sonepat, 18 each in Panipat, Sirsa and Jind districts, 10 in Palwal, four in Panchkula, three in Yamunanagar and one case in Ambala district. As many as 118 FIRs have been registered in Karnal district alone.