Karnal, October 14: Deputy Director of Agriculture, Dr. Wazir Singh, stated that FIRs have been filed against five farmers in the district for burning stubble. Fines have been collected from all five farmers as per regulations, and a red entry has been made in their records on the "Meri Fasal Mera Byora" portal. 
Consequently, these farmers will not be able to sell their crops at the MSP for the next two seasons.
He stated that four farmers are from the Gharaunda block of the district, and one farmer is from the Nilokheri block. 
An FIR has been lodged in the concerned police station against farmer Jasmer, resident of village Kaimla, for setting fire to paddy stubble in the fields of village Malikpur. An FIR has been lodged against farmer Dinesh Kumar and Surjeet, residents of Furlak, Vicky, son of Rajkumar, resident of village Bijna and Bhajan Singh, son of Surata Singh, village Brahmin Majra, for setting fire to paddy stubble under Section 39 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Section 223(A) of the Indian Penal Code (BNS) 2023. 
Dr. Wazir Singh informed that in the last year 2024, by a notification of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, the environmental compensation amount for arson has been increased to Rs. 5,000 per incident for land less than 2 acres, Rs. 10,000 per incident for land of 2 acres or more but less than 5 acres and Rs. 30,000 per incident for land more than 5 acres. Additionally, an FIR will be filed against the farmer found guilty of arson, and a red entry will be made on his/her Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal record.
He informed that, as every year, Deputy Commissioner Uttam Singh has formed district-level, block-level, tehsil-level, and village-level committee enforcement teams to prevent stubble burning. These teams comprise approximately 750 officers and employees, who are not only preventing stubble burning but also enforcing legal action.
 As per the Deputy Commissioner's orders, flag marches are being held in each block. So far, two flag marches have been held in Nilokheri, Indri, and Assandh blocks, and one each in other blocks.
He informed that the respective SDMs, BDPOs, police, and senior officials from the Agriculture Department participate in the flag marches. During the flag marches, farmers are urged to adopt crop residue management and utilize stubble as a source of income instead of burning it. 
This is beneficial for us, as well as for the environment and soil. Burning paddy residue left after harvesting has emerged as a serious environmental crisis, posing a threat to human health.
 Burning crop residue releases harmful gases into the air, increasing pollution. This pollution can cause respiratory problems, eye irritation, and other health problems. Nutrients in the soil are destroyed, and the number of microorganisms and earthworms decreases, reducing soil fertility.