CAQM notices to Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad DCs over spike in stubble fires

Taking a serious view of the recent surge in stubble-burning cases, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued notices to the Deputy Commissioners of Jind, Hisar, and Fatehabad, directing them to explain the spike in paddy residue-burning incidents and submit reports by November 17.

Farm fire incidents (Sept 15-Nov 12)

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District    2023  2024  2025

Haryana (total)   1,813 1,020 464

Jind  281   112   132

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Fatehabad   399   101   75

Hisar 84    28    51

The move comes just days after the Commission’s high-level review meeting on November 7, which was convened to assess the steps taken on the ground to curb farm fires. During the review, the CAQM had noted that between September 15 and November 6, Haryana recorded 206 stubble-burning cases, compared to 888 during the same period last year — a marginal improvement that still fell short of expectations.

“The Deputy Commissioners may immediately initiate action against nodal officers and other functionaries under whom a higher number of farm fires have been recorded. The Commission also warned of stern action against Deputy Commissioners and SSPs/SPs of districts where any spurt of fire incidents is noticed henceforth,” the CAQM stated in its notice.

Despite multiple review meetings and statutory directions, the Commission said, there has been “inadequate supervision and enforcement” of the prescribed action plans. It observed that the continued rise in stubble-burning events indicated non-compliance or contravention of CAQM’s orders, which is punishable under the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.

The CAQM cited alarming spikes over the past week. Between September 15 and November 9, Fatehabad reported 59 fire incidents, including 48 in just nine days (November 1-9) and 28 within two days (November 8-9).

Jind recorded 85 such cases in the same period, 63 of them between November 1 and 9, with 33 incidents on November 8-9 alone.

In Hisar, 41 stubble-burning cases were reported since mid-September, of which 33 occurred between November 1 and 9, including 19 in the last two days of that period.

The CAQM directed Hisar DC Anish Yadav, Fatehabad DC Vivek Bharti and Jind DC Mohd Imran Raza to file their explanations, warning that “failure to respond will imply that you have nothing to state, and action shall be initiated accordingly.”