Chandigarh, (KK) Haryana Chief Secretary Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal said that 90 percent of paddy harvesting in the state has been completed, and the state government is actively bolstering its measures to combat stubble burning.

During a virtual meeting convened by the Union Cabinet Secretary today, Mr. Kaushal emphasised the government's relentless efforts to curtail stubble burning and proactively minimize fire incidents, thus reducing air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR). Providing insights into the government's endeavors, he disclosed that Haryana cultivates 36.5 lakh acres of paddy, comprising 18.36 lakh acres of Basmati cultivation and approximately 18.2 lakh acres of non-Basmati cultivation.

Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal highlighted the state government's vigilance over the Air Quality Index and its stringent measures to further reduce paddy straw burning. He informed that there has been a 38% reduction in stubble burning incidents in 2023 compared to the previous year, with a substantial 57% reduction observed in the last two years.

Furthermore, Mr. Kaushal highlighted the steps taken by the state government, such as issuing instructions to hold Deputy Commissioners and Station House Officers liable for not controlling these fires. The government has also taken strict actions against individuals responsible for farm fires, issuing 1256 challans with fines totaling over Rs. 32.55 lakh and filing 72 FIRs related to farm fires and a total of 44 farm fire instances were extinguished.

Mr. Kaushal said that the state government has imposed restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs (4 Wheelers) in the Gurugram and Faridabad districts with immediate effect until November 30 or until the revocation of GRAP Stage III by the Commission on Air Quality Management, whichever occurs earlier (excluding vehicles deployed in Emergency Services, Police vehicles, and Government vehicles used for Enforcement). Violators found using BS-III Petrol and BS-IV Diesel LMVs (4 Wheelers) in these districts will face prosecution under Section 194(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.

Regarding the fixation of hologram-based color stickers on vehicles registered in NCR districts, he said that approximately 10 lakh vehicles have been color-coded in NCR districts between November 14, 2018, and January 31, 2023.

He reiterated the state government's commitment to eliminating unsustainable practices like paddy straw stubble burning, emphasizing support for farmers through a subsidy of 600 crore for adopting various stubble management practices. The use of Pusa Bio Decomposer on over 5 lakh acres through CSR initiatives further demonstrates this commitment.

Haryana's comprehensive strategy includes both in-situ and ex-situ management, with a focus on categorizing villages into Red, Yellow, and Green zones based on active fire incidents. The state government is dedicated to providing Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines to farmers at a subsidy, with 19141 lakh machines already sanctioned to the farming community. An area of 940 lakh acres has been registered for incentives of Rs. 1000/- per acre.

This commitment is reflected in the recent notification issued on October 30, 2023, introducing the "Haryana Ex-situ Management of Paddy Straw – 2023" scheme. This initiative aims to ensure the assured and adequate supply of paddy straw to biomass-based projects, thereby reducing stubble burning and promoting environmentally conscious agriculture. The projected industrial utilization of 13.54 lakh Mt of paddy straw for the current year further underscores the state government's efforts in this direction.