Chief Secy sets timeline to curb paddy stubble burning

The state government has intensified its drive against paddy stubble burning ahead of the peak harvest season, with Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi chairing a comprehensive review meeting on the implementation of the State Action Plan for Crop Residue Management (CRM) today.

The Chief Secretary directed all departments to ensure 100% compliance with the action plan and reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy towards farm fires. He underscored that protecting air quality was not only vital for Haryana but also for the health of the National Capital Region.

The Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department informed that three cases of stubble burning had been reported this season from Fatehabad, Jind, and Kurukshetra. FIRs have been registered in all incidents, and red entries have been marked in the land records of the farmers concerned. Environmental Compensation (EC) charges have also been imposed.

Principal Secretary, Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Pankaj Agarwal said 5.65 lakh farmers had registered for crop residue management, covering 39.33 lakh acres of paddy area. The top five districts by registered acreage are Karnal (4.69 lakh acres), Kaithal (4.34 lakh acres), Sirsa (3.70 lakh acres), Fatehabad (3.61 lakh acres), and Jind (3.56 lakh acres).

The Chief Secretary directed officials to ensure the mapping of each farm in all villages so that specific modes of stubble management—whether crop diversification, in-situ incorporation, ex-situ use as fodder, or supply to industries—were properly assigned and implemented.

Rastogi said Haryana was not only subsidising the purchase of CRM machines but also making them available through Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) for small and marginal farmers. The district authorities must ensure the optimal utilisation of machines, monitor availability at CHCs, and provide maximum support during peak harvesting periods, he said.

The meeting also reviewed the functioning of the Agriculture Department Portal and the MFMB system, which are playing a key role in registration, booking of machines, disbursal of incentives, and real-time data reporting.

To ensure better outreach, nodal officers have been assigned groups of farmers, with each officer responsible for a maximum of 50 farmers in red and yellow zones and 100 farmers in green zone areas. This structure enables closer monitoring, timely advisories, and effective support. A dedicated project monitoring unit has also been established to track district-level progress and address farmer issues on priority.