Gurugram forms multi-level committees to curb stubble burning following NGT orders

The move follows National Green Tribunal directions ordering surveillance on stubble burning sites and aims to strengthen ground-level vigilance and timely intervention during the harvest season, reducing air pollution in the National Capital Region.

Officials announced that committees have been formed at district, sub-divisional, block, and village levels to monitor and prevent stubble burning in the district. The district-level committee will be headed by the additional deputy commissioner and include the district revenue officer, district development and panchayat officer, deputy director (agriculture), and the regional officer of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB), and will supervise anti-stubble measures. The sub-divisional committee will include the sub-divisional magistrate, assistant commissioner of police, tehsildar, and agriculture department officials along with HSPCB representatives. Block-level committees will comprise the block development and panchayat officer, naib tehsildar, station house officer, and block agriculture officer. Village-level teams will include patwaris, panchayat secretaries, agriculture supervisors, and local representatives such as sarpanches and numberdars.

At a review meeting on Friday, Gurugram deputy commissioner Uttam Singh said any instance of crop residue burning must be acted upon immediately to prevent environmental damage. He directed swift FIR registration in identified cases and told officials to flag violators on the Meri Fasal Mera Byora portal. He noted that violators could face consequences such as disqualification from selling crops in mandis for two years and loss of benefits under agriculture department schemes. He also warned about show-cause notices for field teams that fail to take timely action and stressed monitoring of identified hotspots.