In Yamunanagar, stubble burning cases decline to 38 from 537 in 5 years

Stubble burning becomes a big issue every year as it contributes to air pollution. A number of farmers, belonging to Haryana and Punjab burn crop waste after harvesting paddy crop in October to clear their agriculture fields before sowing next crops.

Similarly, several farmers burn stubble of wheat crop also after harvesting it in April and May. The district administration including Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, Haryana State Pollution Control Board and Police Department in Yamunanagar district is making continuous efforts to stop stubble burning.

As a result of the efforts of the district administration, a decline has been recorded in stubble burning cases. As per the data of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, 537 cases of fire incidents (active fire locations) were reported in the district in 2020. In 2020, Radaur, Bilaspur and Sadhaura blocks were major hotspots of fire incidents.

With 147 fire incidents, a reduction was witnessed in fire incidents in the district in 2021. Jagadhri, Chhachhrauli and Bilaspur blocks were hotspots of fire incidents in 2021. There was a slight increase in fire incidents in 2022 as compared to 2021. In 2022, 155 cases of fire incidents were reported. Bilaspur, Saraswati Nagar and Radaur blocks were registered as hotspots of fire incidents in 2022.

In 2023, a decline was recorded and 98 cases of fire incidents were reported in the district. The highest cases of stubble burning came to light in Sadhaura, Radaur and Chhachhrauli blocks were reported in 2023. However in 2024, a significant improvement was seen in the prevention of stubble burning cases and only 38 cases of fire incidents were reported in the district. A continuous improvement was seen in the decline of fire incidents, but, as per the authorities of the agriculture department, Bilaspur, Radaur and Jagadhri blocks remain persistent hotspots in 2024.Therefore, the Agriculture Department has planned to undertake a focused action in these blocks in the coming crop season. As per agriculture scientists, stubble burning not only spoils air quality but also damages soil health and reduces its fertility.

The Agriculture Department officials, under the guidance of Deputy Director of Agriculture Dr Aditya Pratap Dabas have made a special preventive measures plan to bring stubble burning cases to zero in Yamunanagar district in the kharif crop season this year.

They have set a target for zero fire cases (100 per cent reduction) in all villages of Yamunanagar district by enhancing monitoring, ensuring compliances and strengthening farmers’ participation.

The department will carry out drone-based surveillance by deploying drones in all 15 blocks from September 25 to November 25, besides using live geo-mapping of suspected fire activities and doing daily monitoring through control room and SDM offices.

The department will also use village-level hotspot tracking systems to identify top 100 hotspots using satellite data and will assign nodal officers to each hotspot with mandatory reporting.

The stubble-burnt fields will be marked in red through the Revenue Department. Besides registration of FIRs against violators, immediate penalties will be imposed under the Air Pollution (Prevention and Control) Act. A WhatsApp-based reporting portal will be made for public and the field staff. A live satellite monitoring dashboard will also be set up at the district headquarters besides setting up a farmer call centre for support and complaint resolution. Super seeders, mulchers, happy seeders and other machinery will be distributed to the farmers and custom-hiring centres will be opened in each block with CRM machinery.

Financial incentives will be given to zero-burning gram panchayats and certificates and public felicitation will be given to compliant farmers besides giving incentives to custom-hiring operators and balers. The department has also decided to appoint youth volunteers in very hotspot villages. Joint visits will be done by SDMs, Additional Development Officers (ADOs), BDPOs and officials of Pollution Control Board.

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