Haryana sees 25% drop in stubble burning, uses funds

CHANDIGARH: With paddy harvest over, Haryana says its awareness drive to check stubble burning has yielded a positive result this year with a 25% drop in stubble burning. The government declared it had used almost the entire amount provided for the purpose by the Centre.

Paddy is sown in over 13 lakh hectares in 12 of the 22 districts, mainly Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Jind, Kaithal and Bhiwani. The harvest season stretches from September 25 till mid-november.

Last year, 13.1 lakh hectares were under paddy cultivation, while this year the crop was grown in 13.2 lakh hectares. As many as 9,878 cases of stubble

burning were reported till November 15 last year as against 8,235 cases this season.

Haryana Pollution Control Board member secretary S Narayanan says though the exact area affected by stubble burning is still being calculated by the Haryana Space Application Centre, a 25% drop in area affected by stubble burning is estimated.

Additional agriculture director Suresh Gahlawat says there has been a drop in stubble burning. He says the information and education campaigns by government agencies helped.

Gahlawat says Haryana received Rs 137 crore under the crop residue management (CRM) scheme through which 1,160 farmers’ societies were given implements on 80% subsidy. As many as 3,500 farmers were given implements on 50% subsidy.

Under the mission on agricultural mechanisation (SMAM) scheme through which Haryana got Rs 84 crore, the state government disbursed Rs 20 crore liability of last year and the remaining amount will be given to farmers after their bills are cleared.