New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced that the Haryana government has been providing Rs 1,000 per acre to farmers who avoid burning stubble, addressing concerns over the deteriorating air quality in the Delhi-NCR region.
Following a meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on National Highway Projects, Saini stated that the initiative aims to encourage farmers to adopt improved stubble management practices.
“Our government is giving Rs 1,000 per acre for not burning stubble, and we are working to increase this amount further. I also instructed officials in a recent meeting that if there is a need to raise the subsidy, they should do so and provide the necessary equipment to the farmers,” he said.
Saini added that various facilities have been made available to farmers for effective stubble management, highlighting that the Supreme Court had previously acknowledged the state’s efforts in this regard.
He emphasised the government’s appeal to farmers to stop burning stubble and assured that the administration would expedite the provision of essential equipment, such as reapers and balers.
“We have offered numerous facilities to the farmers. The Supreme Court praised our stubble management last year, and we have urged farmers not to burn stubble. The government will work swiftly to ensure the necessary equipment, whether reapers or balers, is provided,” he added.
Earlier, the Supreme Court criticised the Haryana and Punjab governments for their failure to take sufficient action against stubble burning, affirming that all citizens have a fundamental right to live in a clean and pollution-free environment.
A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih voiced strong concerns over the lack of action against those involved in stubble burning, noting that in some instances, only nominal fines were being imposed.
Meanwhile, Haryana Police in Kaithal district have arrested 18 farmers so far for stubble burning, with cases registered against 22 farmers.
This issue arises amid escalating political tensions, with parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing each other of failing to implement adequate measures to manage pollution, as the air quality index crossed the 300 mark on Wednesday, categorising it as ‘very poor.’