Hry govt to crackdown on crop-residue burning

The Haryana government today directed district administrations to take punitive action against those burning crop-residue in the current harvesting season and register cases in special environment courts.
Incidences of crop-residue burning will be monitored through satellite images by District Level Committees (DLC), formed to prevent the practice, Principal Secretary Environment department Shrikant Walgad directed deputy commissioners through video conferencing.
The DLCs will submit a daily report to the headquarters and will ensure strict enforcement of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, he added.
"Cases against violators will be registered in special environment courts with photographic and video evidences," said Walgad, who is also Chairman Haryana State Pollution Control Board.

He reviewed action plans prepared by the DLCs, which comprise officials from the agriculture, disaster management, police departments and the pollution control board.
The DCs apprised Wadgal of prevention and enforcement plans that had already been initiated and awareness campaigns, which will focus on the adverse effect of the practice on air quality and public health.
They also informed that Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations will monitor air quality continuously ,"
The Haryana Remote Space Application Centre (HARSAC) has been engaged satellite imagery, he said, adding there will be monitoring teams also on the ground.