Stubble fires at 5,900 locations in Haryana

HISAR: The enforcement of state government’s ban on the stubble burning has taken a back seat since officials are occupied with the elections. With no one there to keep a check, the farmers are burning their crop residue with impunity across the state.
Track the pollution level in your city
As per official figures, incidents of stubble burning have reached 5,900 to date. Haryana Pollution Control Board (HPCB) member secretary S Narayanan confirmed the number of incidents as reported through satellite images. More than 500 locations each had been identified in Panipat, Karnal, Sonipat, Jhajjar and Jind, he added.
Rohtak agriculture deputy director Rohtash said no fines had been imposed so far but the department was busy verifying the incidents of stubble burning. He said owing to the Lok Sabha elections, all officers were on poll duty, due to which no steps could be taken.
Sonipat agriculture deputy director Anil Sehrawat also said that due to the election duty nothing was done till May 12. Now, a meeting was being held and as soon as the instructions were received, action would be taken, he added.
Sehrawat’s Hisar counterpart Vinod Fogat said he attended a meeting in this regard in Chandigarh on Thursday and action had been initiated.
Director of Haryana Space Application Centre (HARSAC) at Hisar VS Arya said that the pollution board took satellite imagery from them and would act based on that.
To make stubble management tools available to the farmers, the state government last year opened custom hiring centres at 857 locations across the state. These centres provide toll at 80% subsidized rates. The government also provided 50% subsidy which was availed by 3,800 farmers.