Chandigarh: Haryana will deploy a dedicated “Parali Protection Force” at district and block levels to prevent paddy stubble burning, intensify late-evening patrolling and use drones for surveillance, while offering farmers an incentive of Rs 1,200 per acre for optimal utilisation of crop-residue management machinery, as the state steps up enforcement ahead of the harvesting season.
Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi on Thursday reviewed the state’s action plan for elimination of stubble burning and compliance with Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directions
The action plan provides for a Parali Protection Force comprising police personnel, Agriculture Department officials, administrative officers, nodal and cluster officers and officials of other stakeholder departments. The force will operate at district and block levels to closely monitor farm-fire incidents and take action against stubble burning.
The government plans to move balers, rakers and other machines between districts according to paddy harvesting schedules. Harvesting begins in Yamunanagar, Ambala, Karnal and Kurukshetra from September and progresses to Sirsa, Fatehabad, Hisar and Jind during the last week of October. Officials have been asked to coordinate with baler owners in neighbouring states and adjoining Haryana districts to facilitate movement of machinery during the season.
The government is simultaneously expanding its awareness campaign. 646 village and block-level camps, discussions and demonstrations have been held, involving 23,189 farmers, while 370 school and college activities involving 19,232 students have been conducted.
