The Haryana Government on Wednesday issued an advisory to farmers warning that burning of wheat stubble would lead to prosecution.
The Environment Department issued the notification under the provisions of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, a spokesperson of the State Pollution Control Board said.
Advising wheat growers to use stubble as fodder or convert it into manure, the spokesperson said the farmers were indulging in burning of wheat stubble and paddy straw every year leading to increase in the air pollution level several times.
Besides, the soil fertility is lost due to burning of the essential nutrients as it is estimated that burning of one tonne of rice straw accounts for loss of 5.5 kg nitrogen, 2.3 kg phosphorus, 25 kg potassium and 1.2 kg sulphur, he said.
The Pollution Control Board has initiated action against 32 farmers, who were found burning agriculture waste in open fields, in Special Environment Court at Kurukshetra and Faridabad in the past few years, the spokesman said.
While some farmers have been convicted, imprisoned and fined by the Special Environment Courts, other cases are pending. -- PTI
