New weapon against pollution! Haryana CM announces cash incentives for reporting of stubble burning

Chandigarh, November 2: To get rid out of the menace of pollution caused by stubble-burning in agricultural fields of Panjab and Haryana, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar yesterday announced cash incentive of Rs. 1000 for those reporting incidents of crop residue burning and directed officials to encourage farmers to opt alternatives. 

 

The announcement came yesterday after a Supreme Court panel on pollution control declared a public health emergency in the national capital. According to the Centre's air quality monitor SAFAR, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution stood at 46 per cent.

The CM met officials to review the crop residue management scheme in his state. He directed officers of the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department to visit 10 villages where maximum incidents crop residue burning has been reported and ascertain the reason behind it. He said a cash award of 1,000 rupees would be given to those informing about such incidents in their area and their identity would be kept secret.

 

He said that the Deputy Commissioners of the concerned districts would also organize meeting of 'Gram Sabha' in these villages so that detailed deliberations could be held with the farmers on the issue. Directions were also issued for exploring various options for the purchase of crop residue from farmers.

As per the information by the Haryana Pollution control board, the state has witnessed 4,288 cases of stubble burning, a bit lower than what it had seen last year. A total of 324 complaints have been lodged with the police against farmers for stubble burning. The problem is severe in Fatehabad, Sirsa and Kurukshetra.