SATISH HANDA
According to information, in past four weeks remains of paddy crop cultivated in nearly 13.29 lakh hectare area in the state this year were illegally burnt by the farmers in Haryana state at 3310 spots, which include over 676 places in Karnal, over 604 places in Kurukshetra and 572 places in Kaithl districts, besides in several other districts severely polluting the environments in and around the area harming health of residents due to smoke. Devinder Singh Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Department Haryana told that nearly 160 FIRs has been registered with the police and fine worth over Rs 15 lakh collected from those farmers violated directions not to burn crop wastes in open.
Devinder Singh told that subsidy up to 80% is available to farmers through custom Hiring Centres on machinery amounting to Rs 152 crore has been fixed by the state government and budget of value worth Rs 216.21 crore towards 50% subsidy is also available. He said, 24507 machines were provided to the farmers for the management of crop remains in the year 2019, whereas bills for 13000 machines has been uploaded so far this year and with the opening of another 1031 custom hiring centres the total number of such centres would reach to 3831 in the state.
According to data available with state government, maximum number of cases of burning crop remains in the state has been reported in seven districts recorded as highest number of 676 burning cases in Karnal district, followed by 604 cases in Kurukshetra district, 572 cases in Kaithal district, 396 cases in Ambala district, 243 cases in Fatehabad district, 224 cases in Jind district and 220 cases in Yamunanagar district worst affecting the environments of Faridabad, Panipat and Fatehabad districts extremely harmful for health of residents. AQI (Air Quality Index) of various districts in Haryana state has been recorded as 315 at Faridabad, 312 at Panipat, 310 at Dharuheda, 306 at Fatehabad, 287 at Jind, 285 at Karnala and Kurukshetra, 269 at Kaithal, 267 at Hisar,258 at Yamunanagar and Mewat, 240 at Charkhi Dadri, 235 at Ambala, 234 at Bhiwani, 215 at Gurugram, 189 at Sonepat, 159 at Sirsa, 152 at Narnaul, 139 at Rohtak and 94 at Panchkula.
