Stubble burning cases drop by 91% in Sirsa

This year, Sirsa has seen a remarkable 91 per cent reduction in stubble burning cases compared to the last four years, thanks to the government's strict measures and the district administration's vigilance.

According to the Agriculture Department's data, there were 640 cases of stubble burning in 2021, but only 58 cases have been reported so far in 2024.The number of stubble burning cases was steadily declining in recent years. In 2023, there were 89 locations reported for stubble burning, whereas this year, only 58 have been reported. Notably, 70 per cent of these reported locations did not have any stubble burning, as confirmed by a survey conducted by the Pollution Control Board officials. This year marks the lowest number of stubble burning incidents in the past four years.

Authorities have registered FIRs against 21 farmers for burning stubble. The Agriculture Department officials believe that 70 per cent of the locations reported in the recent survey were found to be incorrect. However, concerns remain in the Ghaggar Belt area, where the administration continues to monitor the situation closely.

As part of the ongoing efforts, officials such as SDMs, Tehsildars, and Pollution Control Board members are actively educating villagers on the harmful effects of stubble burning.

Dr Sukhdev Singh, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department, stated that the decline in stubble burning incidents was a result of both increased farmer awareness and the government's strict enforcement. He added that teams were formed in 290 villages and the combined efforts of all officials and staff had led to this positive outcome.

SDM Rajendra Kumar said the farmers could prevent environmental pollution and maintain the fertility of their land by managing stubble instead of burning it. He urged the farmers to manage stubble rather than burn it, as the government was providing grants for stubble management. He explained that the smoke from burning stubble polluted the environment and caused various health issues. Keeping the environment clean was a collective responsibility and the farmers should manage stubble in a better way instead of burning it. The government was providing a grant of Rs. 1,000 per acre for stubble management, along with subsidised equipment for stubble management. He encouraged farmers to take advantage of these benefits.

On Thursday, students from the Government Senior Secondary School at Natar village took out an awareness rally. The rally was flagged off by Tehsildar Bhavnesh Kumar. The students raised slogans such as "Don't burn stubble, save the environment," to raise awareness among the public about not burning stubble. During the rally, they also told the farmers about the environmental harm caused by burning stubble and the benefits of managing it properly.