40% dip in farm fires in Palwal

Palwal district, having one of the main agricultural belts in the southern part of the state, has recorded a decline up to 40 per cent in stubble burning cases this season.

Increased awareness and measures by the district authorities to contain the menace is reported to have impacted the incidence.

With only 19 cases of stubble burning recorded between September 15 and October 31, the number is reported to be around 40 per cent lower in comparison to last year, according to the officials of the district administration.

Though the total incidents reported were 31 in this period, the cases that have been found correct are only 19. The number of farm fires reported by satellite in this period in 2023 had been around 50.

The district authorities carry out physical verification of such incidents on the basis of the reports submitted by the satellite images collected by the HARSAC satellite system based and controlled by the state government at Hisar, it is reported.

While the total number of challans has been 19 in this period, a penalty of Rs 55,000 has been imposed so far. A challan of Rs 2,500 per acre is issued in case of burning of stubble. The villages from where such cases have emerged include Kondal, Likhi, Fartaskunagar, Farizabad Misa, Deeghot, Kanoli, Rasulpur, Solra, Murtazabad, Banswa, Sultapur, Ghori, Manpur, Sujwari, Aswata, Atwa and Banswa.

A total of 25 farmers have been challaned and the authorities have registered as many as eight cases under Section 163 of the Indian Civil Defence Act for violation of norms.

DC Dr Harish Kumar Vashisht said that better vigil, overall awareness and availability of options to deal with the issue have resulted in lower incidence of stubble burning in the district this season.

He said several teams of officials have been pressed into the job of conducting inspections in sensitive areas and on creating awareness about the available options and subsidy in dealing with the issue in an effective manner.

Many farmers have already started converting stubble into crop manure with the help of machines, it is added.

Around 20,000 metric tonnes of paddy and 8,000 metric tonnes of bajra (millet) have been procured in the district till October 31, it is claimed.