Haryana Crop Residue Management: 74 FIRs, Machinery Subsidy and ₹1,200 per Acre Incentive

The news

Haryana Police have registered 74 first information reports (FIRs) against farmers and others allegedly involved in stubble burning, and made red entries in the revenue records of 19 fields, a measure that could restrict access to procurement facilities and government benefits. The action, announced on Wednesday, drew sharp criticism from farmer unions who said criminal prosecution was not a solution and demanded the withdrawal of the FIRs.

Farmers have been booked under Section 223(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for disobeying orders prohibiting stubble burning, and under Section 39 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. An official spokesperson said 206 fire incidents were reported across 23 districts, with crop residue burning confirmed at 89 locations after inspection. Fines of ₹3.55 lakh have been imposed through 62 challans, of which ₹2.30 lakh has been recovered. Show-cause notices have been issued to 109 nodal officers for alleged negligence in monitoring.

The crackdown comes after a seasonal peak of 80 fire incidents in a single day around Diwali. Haryana recorded 175 incidents between September 15 and November 8. Farmer leaders said the situation had improved considerably and that farmers resorted to burning only when machinery for residue management was unavailable, particularly those with small landholdings of one or two acres. They called for sufficient machinery, financial assistance and practical alternatives rather than criminal cases.

The government said it had distributed 13,200 agricultural machines, including Super Seeders and Balers, with subsidies of up to 50 per cent on purchase. Farmers adopting crop-residue management are being given an incentive of ₹1,200 per acre, and approximately ₹500 crore is expected to be disbursed under the scheme. The state has installed 79 sensors in hotspot villages and deployed 36 drones for continuous monitoring across districts.

What legal provisions have been invoked?

Farmers have been booked under Section 223(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which penalises disobedience of a duly promulgated order by a public servant, and under Section 39 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, for contravention of the Act's provisions or directions. Red entries in revenue records could restrict access to agricultural procurement facilities and government benefits, though the exact impact depends on implementation.

What do farmer unions say about machinery access?

Farmer leaders said the situation had improved considerably and that farmers generally do not burn stubble now. They argued that burning occurs mainly when machinery for residue management is unavailable, especially for small landholders with one or two acres. The Pagri Sambhal Jatta Kisan Sangharsh Samiti and the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) said the government should focus on facilitating access to machinery and providing financial assistance rather than registering FIRs.

What has the government done on subsidies and surveillance?

The government has distributed 13,200 machines, including Super Seeders and Balers, with purchase subsidies of up to 50 per cent. Farmers adopting crop-residue management receive an incentive of ₹1,200 per acre, with approximately ₹500 crore expected to be disbursed. For monitoring, 79 sensors have been installed in hotspot villages and 36 drones deployed across districts. Show-cause notices have been issued to 109 nodal officers for alleged negligence in discharging duties.