Alarming rise in crop residue fires, Kaithal tops with 75 active cases

Deepender Deswal/ Parveen Arora

The number of farm fires due to the burning of rice crop residue has reached alarming levels in Haryana, even as paddy harvesting is still in its early stages in many parts of the state. Most incidents have been reported in the GT Road belt, including Kaithal, Karnal, Ambala, and Yamunanagar districts, while the interior regions, such as Hisar, Jind, and Fatehabad, are also witnessing cases.

Data from the Agriculture Department reveals that Kaithal district has reported the highest number of 75 active fire locations (AFLs) as of yesterday evening. Statewide, a total of 468 AFLs have been recorded, marking the highest in the past three years.

Dalwinder Singh, a farmer from Pipaltha village in Kaithal, acknowledged the awareness of alternative straw management techniques but noted their limited adoption among farmers.

Administrative sources said the Haryana Pollution Control Board and Agriculture Department have intensified efforts. “Reports of every fire are being collected from the field. Farmers will be held accountable for burning stubble and may face challans or even FIRs,” said an official.

In Hisar, Additional Director of the Haryana Pollution Control Board, Dr Ankur Tiwari, along with Agriculture Department officials, visited affected areas such as Hansi, Sisai, Mada, and Narnaund. Dr Jitender Pal, a professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering at Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, said, “The burning of paddy residue is one of the major factors contributing to environmental pollution,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kaithal DC Vivek Bharti said so far, a fine of Rs 1,07,500 had been imposed on 43 farmers.

The Karnal administration has registered eight FIRs against the farmers. Karnal Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh said, “We have registered eight FIRs and imposed fines of Rs 97,500 on the offending farmers."

Dr Wazir Singh, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Karnal, said fines have been imposed in 36 cases across the state.