Poll season, no challan for burning stubble

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 11

As Haryana is set to go to the polls, no challan has been issued to any farmer despite over 300 incidents of stubble burning this paddy harvesting season.

Though the state government maintains that the staff are busy in election duty, sources say the BJP government does not want to issue challans to farmers as it can have electoral disadvantage.

“From September 25 to October 10, 343 stubble burning incidents have been reported through satellite mapping,” said S Narayanan, member secretary, Haryana State Pollution Control Board. In 2018, from September 25 to October 10, there were 459 incidents. There was a drop of 25.3 per cent this year.

This season, 58 FIRs were registered. The challan amount was Rs 2,500 for farm up to two hectares, Rs 5,000 for farm between two hectares and five hectares and Rs 15,000 for farm more than five hectares.

In the entire paddy harvesting season in 2018, 6,102 challans were issued, challan amount of Rs 50.05 lakh recovered and 167 FIRs registered. Last month, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the recovery of fines and allowed issuance of challans.

“This season, a high pressure area has been created in Punjab and Haryana. Due to the north-westerly flow of winds, pollution due to stubble burning reaches the National Capital Region,” said Surender Paul, Director, Indian Meteorological Department.

On October 1, the National Green Tribunal ordered Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to create special cell in the office of Chief Secretary and at the district level for monitoring the situation.

On October 7, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the Centre allocated Rs 1,150 crore, with which 22,000 machines were bought.