₹471 Crore Incentive and Strict Monitoring – Haryana Cracks Down on Stubble Burning

Krishi Dunia

• 30 Sep, 2025 12:24 PM IST ,
• Updated Tue, 30 Sep 2025 01:06 PM

The Haryana government has taken a tough stance against stubble burning by enforcing a zero-tolerance policy. Along with strict monitoring, the state is promoting sustainable alternatives through subsidies, CRM machines, and industrial linkages for stubble management.

High-Level Meeting and Directives

On Monday, Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi chaired a crucial meeting on the issue. He instructed all departments to ensure 100% compliance with the action plan and reiterated that the state’s stance on stubble burning is one of “zero tolerance.”

Rastogi emphasized that protecting air quality is not only vital for Haryana but also for the entire NCR region, where pollution levels spike during the harvest season.

Current Status of Stubble Burning

According to the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, three cases of stubble burning have been reported so far from Fatehabad, Jind, and Kurukshetra.

• FIRs have been registered in all three cases.
• “Red entries” have been made in land records.
• Environmental Compensation (EC) penalties have been imposed on the violators.

The government has warned that any future violations will invite even stricter action. All Deputy Commissioners (DCs) have been asked to personally supervise enforcement in their districts.

Large-Scale Farmer Participation

This year, 5.65 lakh farmers have registered stubble management plans covering 39.33 lakh acres of paddy fields.

Top districts by registration include:

• Karnal – 4.69 lakh acres
• Kaithal – 4.34 lakh acres
• Sirsa – 3.70 lakh acres
• Fatehabad – 3.61 lakh acres
• Jind – 3.56 lakh acres

Mapping and Technology Use

The Chief Secretary has directed mapping of fields in every village to identify suitable techniques for stubble disposal, including:

• Crop diversification
• In-situ management
• Use as fodder
• Industrial supply

To support small and marginal farmers, CRM machines are being subsidized and made available through Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs)

₹471 Crore Incentive Package

The government has sanctioned ₹471.96 crore as incentive support this year.

• Farmers will receive ₹1,200 per acre for adopting sustainable stubble management practices.
• The scheme is aimed at reducing dependence on burning while making eco-friendly practices financially viable.

Digital Transparency

Platforms like ‘Meri Fasal Mera Byora’ and the Agriculture Department’s portal are being used for:

• Farmer registrations
• Machine bookings
• Incentive distribution
• Real-time data reporting

Monitoring Mechanism

• Nodal officers have been appointed to guide farmers and oversee compliance.
• In Red and Yellow Zones, one officer will monitor up to 50 farmers.
• In Green Zones, one officer will oversee 100 farmers.
• A Project Monitoring Unit (PMU) has also been set up to track district-level progress and address farmer grievances promptl

“Stubble Protection Force” Formed

Agriculture Director Rajnaryan Kaushik announced the creation of a “Stubble Protection Force” in several districts.

• The force includes officials from police, agriculture, and district administration.
• It will patrol fields, including night surveillance, to prevent farmers from secretly burning stubble after dark.

Industrial Linkages

To ensure sustainable stubble use, farmers are being connected with biomass plants, briquetting units, and Haryana Power Generation Corporation.

• An online platform is facilitating this linkage.
• 249 acres of panchayat land will be used to set up storage depots for collected stubble.
• This will guarantee a steady supply of biomass to industries.

Conclusion

The Haryana government’s comprehensive approach—combining incentives, technology, strict enforcement, and industrial partnerships—aims to eliminate the need for stubble burning altogether.

This not only benefits farmers but also helps secure cleaner air for the entire NCR region, offering a long-term solution to one of North India’s most pressing environmental challenges.