Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, September 15: In view of the paddy procurement season starting from September 16 in the district, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Magistrate Mrs. Komal Mittal has imposed a ban on paddy harvesting with combine harvesters from 6:00 PM to 10:00 AM.
She stated today that operating combines at night for crop harvesting not only increases the risk of accidents but also causes the paddy crop to become moist due to dew at night and unseasonal rains. When combines harvest paddy at night, the crop, which is not properly dried, results in grains that are raw and green. 
This leads to excessive moisture in the paddy, causing direct losses to farmers and affecting the country’s production. Similarly, the moisture content in paddy exceeds the specifications set by the government, making procurement agencies unable to purchase such paddy.
 This leads to inconvenience for farmers in the markets and increases the likelihood of law-and-order issues. Additionally, combine harvester owners are prohibited from harvesting paddy without equipping their machines with Super Straw Management Systems (SMS), as this contributes to pollution.
Furthermore, after paddy harvesting, farmers often burn the crop residue, which results in harmful gases polluting the environment and damaging soil fertility. In this regard, keeping in view the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Civil Writ Petition No. 10138/06 (Captain Sarabjit Singh vs. Punjab Government), it becomes necessary to implement the recommendations of the committee formed under these orders by imposing a ban on burning crop residue after paddy harvesting to prevent environmental pollution from harmful gases.
Considering these concerns, District Magistrate Komal Mittal, exercising the powers granted under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, has issued orders prohibiting paddy crop harvesting with combines within the limits of Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district from 6:00 PM to 10:00 AM. Additionally, there will be a complete ban on burning paddy crop residue in the district. Furthermore, no combine owner will harvest paddy without equipping their machine with a Super SMS.
These orders will be effective immediately in the district from September 16, 2025, to November 15, 2025.