Farm fires: 29 farmers banned from markets, fined in Yamunanagar

In a crackdown on stubble burning, the Haryana Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department in Yamunanagar has issued ‘red entries’ against 29 farmers on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora (MFMB) portal. This action bars them from selling their crops in state grain markets for allegedly burning paddy stubble to clear their fields.

In addition, the department lodged FIRs and imposed fines on other farmers as part of efforts to curb farm fires in the district. The measures come following the Supreme Court's concerns over the rise in farm fire cases across Haryana during the paddy harvesting season.

"Red entries have been made against 29 farmers on the MFMB portal," said Satish Kumar Arora, Assistant Plant Protection Officer (AAPO) of the Agriculture Department, Yamunanagar. The department has reported 35 active fire locations (AFL) cases this season, though only 20 were confirmed as stubble burning incidents in the district.

The authorities have collected Rs 35,000 in fines from 14 farmers and registered 30 FIRs against others involved in stubble burning. Farmers facing red entries on the MFMB portal are barred from selling crops in the grain markets for the next two seasons.

"Under the guidance of Aditya Pratap Dabas, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Yamunanagar, department teams are working tirelessly to stop paddy stubble burning," Arora added.