The Haryana government has issued strict orders against farmers burning stubble. There are chances that FIRs would be lodged against those farmers who would be seen indulging in stubble burning. For this crime, there is a further penalty of banning these farmers from selling their crops for two years through the e-Kharid portal.
The order was issued by the Haryana Agriculture Department, based on the directive from the Air Quality Management Commission, CQM. Crop sales in all the mandis, or marketplaces, of Haryana will be banned. However, a guilty farmer will have a “red entry” in his agricultural records. The red entry will bar farmers from selling crops from this e-Kharid portal.
More than 14000 farmers in red entry
So far, by October 14, 232 farmers have been queued with a red entry. Haryana Minister Mahipal Dhanda appealed to the farmers to refrain from the burning of stubble and opt for schemes provided by the government instead. Dhanda said the smog caused by the burning of stubble has a highly harmful effect on air pollution and health issues. He said people suffering from respiratory problems would be badly hit by the alarming rise in pollution because of the burning of stubble.
The Haryana government has constituted teams at the block and village levels for this purpose. “Till date, teams have been helping farmers in villages,” said Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department, Dr. Babu Lal. Mobile awareness campaigns are being conducted to educate farmers about alternatives to stubble burning.
The Supreme Court of India has sternly rebuked Haryana and Punjab regarding the widespread problem on stubble burning, which is very prevalent among farmers in the country. Thus, in Kaithal alone, a total of 97 cases of stubble burning, for example, are said to be manifested. The said court has chided Haryana and Punjab for not prosecuting farmers on accusations of stubble burning. This supreme court is opposed to minimal fines imposed on violators of stubble burning.
Strict orders against farmers burning stubble, no check and balance despite rules
Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Augustine George Masih noted the half-hearted legal process. The bench inquired why Haryana and Punjab were interested in not prosecuting the farmers who were burning stubble. The court took note of the fact that Haryana was behaving with “complete defiance” even after directions issued under the Commission of Air Quality Management in NCT Region Act 2021.
The Supreme Court referred to ISRO data which points out the location of spot stubble burning that has not yet been taken cognizance of. The court also pointed out that 191 violations had taken place but nominal fines were collected. The case came up during a hearing on the issue of air pollution in Delhi. The court drew attention to stricter enforcement measures of the directives issued by the Commission.
The judiciary in Haryana is reported to be under-acting in terms of legal action to curb the problem of air pollution in Delhi. The drive is also aimed at checking the farmers from doing the fatal stubble burning practice. And therefore, the Haryana government too has promoted eco-friendly methods among the farmers to manage crop residues. Schemes of the government are available to help the farmers in getting away with stubble burning.
Also, see: Nearly 1200 farmers have committed suicide due to poverty in Congress ruled Karnataka