Explainer: Why Fatehabad is facing heat over rising farm fires

Fatehabad has become a central flashpoint in Haryana’s intensified campaign against stubble burning, drawing sharp scrutiny from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). After the district climbed to the second-highest position in farm-fire incidents, the CAQM issued notices to the Deputy Commissioners of Fatehabad, Hisar and Jind, questioning administrative lapses despite extensive monitoring deployments. In Fatehabad, police suspensions, mass show-cause notices and multiple FIRs signal a tougher stance as authorities attempt to curb crop-residue fires that worsen toxic winter smog. While districts such as Sirsa report a steep decline in cases compared with last year, others like Jind continue to struggle. The contrasting trends highlight uneven enforcement and persistent challenges across Haryana.