A group of farmers in Haryana's Ambala district allegedly held three government officials hostage during a patrol to inspect stubble burning. The incident occurred in Kot Kachua village in Ambala when the team, consisting of a patwari (land records official), a gram sachiv (village development officer), and an agriculture department official, visited the village to verify a satellite image provided by the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC), Hisar. They were there to issue challans for stubble burning based on this information.
The farmers allegedly surrounded the team's vehicle and held them as hostage for several hours. They were demanding a government subsidy for purchasing straw management machines and an increase in the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy.
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The officials were eventually released with the intervention of senior police officers and district administration officials.
This incident coincides with efforts by the Punjab and Haryana governments to combat stubble burning, a major contributor to regional air pollution.
The Supreme Court has ordered action against farmers who engage in this practice. However, farmers argue that burning crop residue benefits them and enhances crop yields. They have issued warnings that administrative representatives issuing challans in rural areas will be taken hostage and have threatened large-scale protests if farmers are charged.
Agriculture officials are working to educate farmers on the issue. Despite appeals from the administration, some farmers in Ambala continue to burn crop residue as they prepare their fields for the next crop, citing limited alternatives.
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The Ambala Agriculture Department has issued challans to numerous farmers for stubble burning and is conducting investigations. While farmers protest these actions, the department maintains its focus on raising awareness, leading to increased compliance with the orders.
Stubble burning in Punjab has seen a significant rise this year, with 656 farm fire incidents reported from September 15 to October 4, compared to 415 and 260 during the same period in 2022 and 2021, respectively.