9 challaned in Palwal

Palwal, October 15

Nine farmers have been issued challans in the past week for stubble burning in Palwal district. A total of 13 cases of burning of paddy residue have been reported so far.

The authorities have announced to set up teams to keep vigil and take measures to curb the activity.

“While around 15 villages in the district have been identified most prone to such activity and have been placed in the red zone category, the administration has already issued challans against about nine violations detected and verified by the Agriculture Department till October 14,” said a senior official of the district administration.

Admitting to the incidents of stubble burning despite a drive launched to create awareness and the appeals issued to farmers to go for alternative means of stubble disposal, Mahavir Singh, Deputy Director, Agriculture, here said that while nine farmers have been imposed a penalty known as environment compensation, three other incidents of fire recorded by HARSAC satellite imagery were being verified. He said a total of 10 teams have been set up for round-the-clock monitoring. He said the drive would continue till the end of the harvesting period.

DC Krishan Kumar said the villages which are under the radar are Khambi, Biduki, Sevli, Baswa, Hassanpur, Kusak, Pingor, Raidaska, Asawata, Chajjunagar, Kithwari, Rasoolpur, Badram, Janoli, Khajurka and Mandkaul. He said three teams would be submitting a daily report. It will be forwarded to Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture and Environment Department. FIR will be registered if offenders fail to pay the penalty, he said. — TNS