Over 31 pc decrease in stubble burning cases in Haryana this year:Officials

Haryana has witnessed a decrease of 31.07 per cent in stubble burning incidents this year as against 2018, officials said on Tuesday.

During a meeting, held via video-conference, Haryana Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora said that keeping in view the past stubble burning incidents, the deputy commissioners should keep a close watch on the places where stubble burning has taken place earlier.

She also directed that action should be taken against sarpanchs and nodal officers appointed in the villages where cases of stubble burning are reported, an official release said.

Arora said that satellite imagery should also be resorted to prevent incidents of stubble burning. Apart from this, direct verification should be done by checking the surrounding area on the spot.

Talking to reporters after chairing a separate meeting earlier in the day, Power Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala said that solution to the stubble burning problem may be round-the-corner as 24 firms have shown interest to set up Compressed Biogas (CBG) plants to convert paddy straw into biogas.

Such plants deploy special machines to chop and bundle paddy straw for transportation to a storage, which is used through the year to produce CBG, which can then be used as CNG in automobiles.

He said that stubble can also be used in thermal plants.

As much as 50-55 lakh tonne stubble is generated in the state every year and once CBGs are set up, bulk of it would be procured by them.

Chautala gave 15 days time to officials to ensure that all power cables found loose or hanging dangerously in villages and cities are set right.

"After 15 days, if I come across any such power cable which is found loose or hanging dangerously, the official concerned will be placed under suspension," he said.