Days after the Supreme Court criticised the Haryana and Punjab governments for not prosecuting farmers who burn stubble, contributing to air pollution in the Delhi National Capital Region, 18 farmers in Haryana’s Kaithal district have been arrested for burning stubble in their fields over the past two days, reports The Indian Express.
Stubble burning in Haryana and neighbouring Punjab is often blamed for rising pollution levels in Delhi, particularly during the post-harvest months of October and November. Kaithal Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kalia said that the farmers were later released on bail.
Moreover, the district administrations across the state have also blacklisted over 400 farmers for allegedly burning stubble since the season began on September 15, preventing them from selling their crops at mandis for two years.
The cases were filed under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and other relevant laws. In addition to Kaithal, FIRs for stubble burning have also been registered in districts like Panipat, Yamunanagar, and Ambala, with fines imposed on violators.
Haryana Chief Secretary TVSN Prasad directed deputy commissioners on Sunday to effectively curb stubble-burning incidents.
The Supreme Court had pulled up the Punjab and Haryana governments for not prosecuting those guilty of stubble burning, citing “complete insensitivity” from the states.
Farmers set paddy residue ablaze to clear their fields to sow wheat, a Rabi crop, as the window between harvesting and sowing is very short.
Congress leaders and farmer organisations have criticised the government, labelling its actions as “Tughlaqi firman”. Former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Congress leader Kumari Selja have called on the government to establish a minimum support price (MSP) for stubble and purchase it from farmers.