Straw management system must for paddy harvesting in Haryana

In a bid to prevent burning of crop residue in the State, Haryana State Pollution Control Board has issued directions for undertaking the harvesting of paddy. The HSPCB has issued directions that the owners of combine harvester desirous of undertaking the harvesting of paddy would attach Super Straw Management System (SSMS) with the harvester and no machine would be allowed to harvest paddy in the State without functional SSMS attached to it.

A spokesman of the HSPCB said various studies conducted by reputed agencies and institutions revealed that SSMS, when attached with combine harvester during paddy harvesting facilitates cutting of paddy straw into small pieces, enabling the farmers to sow the next crop without burning the paddy straw, as is being practiced illegally in the State.

The HSPCB had considered the matter related to indiscriminate burning of left-over paddy straw and stubble in open fields. The burning of straw after harvesting is the main reason of air pollution in the State and adjoining Delhi and NCR, he said.

Such actions are causing irreparable damaged to the soil and receiving environment, he said. The spokesman further said in order to curb the menace of crop residue burning during the harvesting season, the Haryana Environment Department had issued notification dated September 16, 2003, prohibiting indiscriminate burning of the left-over paddy straw and wheat stubble in the State.

On the other hand, the Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, has prohibited agriculture crop residue burning in NCR region, including Haryana, the spokesman added.