Burning of agri waste: 23 challans issued in Haryana

Chandigarh: Taking serious note of burning of agricultural waste in the state, which causes environmental pollution and other problems, 23 challans have been issued in Haryana under the state government's drive to check the practice.

Thirteen of these challans were issued in Hisar, Sirsa and Fatehabad, whereas 10 were issued in Karnal and Yamunanagar, recently, a spokesman of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) said here today.

These cases have been forwarded to the Environment Court for further action, he said.

The spokesman said that the HSPCB is running various awareness campaigns to educate the farmers about the harmful effects of burning leftover straw.

He said following the HSPCB's efforts to persuade industries, such as paper and cardboard units, to use paddy straw as raw material in their process, some of these units have already started using paddy straw as raw material.

The spokesman said that the Environment Department has already prohibited the practice of burning paddy straw in open fields and instructions were issued to all Deputy Commissioners on September 4, 2015 to issue statutory warning to all Block Development Officers, Tehsildars and Patwaris (revenue officials) to instruct the Sarpanch and Panches in the villages for persuading farmers not to burn leftover straw in open fields during the current Kharif season.

The HSPCB is getting a remote sensing study conducted through the Haryana Space Application Centre (HARSAC) to ascertain the extent of burning during 2013-15, the spokesman said.

This study is also being conducted during the current crop season in October-November, 2015, which would further show the extent of reduction in burning area in 10 major paddy-growing districts of the state.

Notably, ignoring warnings by state authorities, growers in Punjab and Haryana continue to burn paddy stubble in their fields, which is leading to engulfing area with smog and posing health-related risks.