Chandigarh, Sep 29 (NationPress) Haryana has reported three incidents of stubble burning, prompting the state government to ramp up efforts against paddy stubble burning as the peak harvest season approaches. Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi led a review meeting on the execution of the state action plan for crop residue management (CRM) this past Monday.

Rastogi instructed all departments to ensure full compliance with the action plan and reaffirmed the government's zero-tolerance stance on agricultural fires.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining air quality, not only for Haryana but also for the health of the entire National Capital Region (NCR).

The Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department reported that the three cases of stubble burning originated from Fatehabad, Jind, and Kurukshetra.

First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed for each incident, and red entries have been made in the land records of the involved farmers.

Moreover, environmental compensation charges have been levied.

The department warned that strict punitive actions will be enforced for any future infractions.

Rastogi reiterated the state government's dedication to stringent enforcement measures to effectively prevent farm fires.

Pankaj Agarwal, Principal Secretary of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, stated that 5.65 lakh farmers have signed up for crop residue management, covering an impressive 39.33 lakh acres of paddy.

The leading five districts by registered acreage include Karnal (4.69 lakh acres), Kaithal (4.34 lakh acres), Sirsa (3.70 lakh acres), Fatehabad (3.61 lakh acres), and Jind (3.56 lakh acres).

Chief Secretary Rastogi directed officials to map each farm in all villages to ensure that tailored stubble management techniques—such as crop diversification, in-situ incorporation, ex-situ use as fodder, or supply to industries—are correctly allocated and executed.

He noted that Haryana is not only subsidizing the purchase of CRM machines but also making them accessible via Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) for small and marginal farmers.

He stressed that district authorities must guarantee the optimal use of machines, monitor availability at CHCs, and provide maximum support during peak harvesting periods.

This year, incentives amounting to Rs 471.96 crore have been approved, offering farmers Rs 1,200 per acre to adopt sustainable residue management practices.

The meeting assessed the performance of the Agriculture Department portal and the Meri Fasal Mera Byora system, which are essential for registration, machine bookings, incentive disbursal, and real-time data tracking.

To enhance outreach, nodal officers have been designated to manage groups of farmers, with each officer responsible for a maximum of 50 farmers in red and yellow zones and 100 farmers in green zone areas.

This system enables closer monitoring, timely advisories, and effective support.

A dedicated project monitoring unit has also been established to oversee district-level progress and address farmer issues as a priority.