CHANDIGARH, May 7 -- Reversing the trend of registering a sharp dip in the field fire incidents over the past three seasons, Haryana has seen a more than three-fold rise in the cases during the ongoing wheat harvesting cycle, raising the hackles of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and bringing the veracity of enforcement drives under scrutiny. According to official data of the agriculture department, accessed by HT, the state has recorded 2,657 farm fire incidents between April 1 and May 5, which is the highest count in the last five years and exceeds 2,465 cases recorded in the 2022 wheat harvesting season. The data shows that the steady decline observed after 2022 has not been sustained. For instance, farm fire incidents dropped to 778 in 2023 before rising marginally to 1,157 in 2024 and again falling to 789 last year. Government sources say the steep rise in farm fires this year was at the centre of a review meeting the CAQM held on Wednesday-via a video conference-with Haryana government officials. Though the CAQM meeting was convened to primarily review the paddy harvesting action plan, pointed questions were raised on the issue of a spike in farm fires. The CAQM wanted to know the reasons behind this "significant spurt" in cases and the steps Haryana was planning to take to halt this trend when the paddy harvesting starts in October. "The CAQM authorities reviewed the current spurt in the farm fires and the steps we will take to contain it during the paddy harvesting cycle. The CAQM specifically pointed out why Jind district remains a hotspot in wheat harvesting cycles," said an official of the Haryana agriculture department present in the meeting, asking not to be identified. The meeting was also attended by deputy commissioners and superintendents of police. The analysis of district-wise data indicates that the rise in active fire locations (AFLs) is being driven by districts in central and western Haryana. Jind has emerged as the biggest hotspot with 439 incidents, followed by Rohtak (388) and Jhajjar (282). Sonepat has recorded 221 incidents, Kaithal (199), Sirsa (178), Karnal (172), Hisar (171), Fatehabad (156), and Panipat (133), accounting for a significant share of the state's total fires. Bhiwani has recorded 74 cases, Ambala 55, Gurugram 21, Kurukshetra 49 and Palwal 39. A number of districts have recorded steep year-after-year increases with farm fire cases in Hisar rising from 37 incidents last year to 171 this season, Panipat from 32 to 133, Ambala from 18 to 55 and Bhiwani from 14 to 74 incidents. In contrast, some districts have reported minimal activity with Mahendragarh recording no incidents in five years and Panchkula, Rewari and Mewat registering isolated cases. The CAQM authorities also enquired if Haryana was giving Rs.1,200 per acre incentive to farmers for wheat crop residue management, which it gives to the cultivators for paddy residue management. "There is no proposal whatsoever under consideration as it involves a huge financial burden," a top government functionary said, requesting anonymity. Officials said that cases are being registered against the farmers and that fines have been imposed. "For instance, nine FIRs have been registered in Karnal district. In Kurukshetra, authorities are going to book 19 farmers for burning crop residue," the official quoted above added. Cultivators said that marginal farmers prefer "matchstick to deal with crop residue" to costly mechanised harvesting and cultivation. A progressive farmer, Sushil Kamboj, a BTech (Mechanical) graduate from Karnal district's Indri block, who cultivates 10 acres, said, "For a farmer, one matchstick is cheaper than hiring a super seeder. Managing crop residue using a super seeder costs nearly Rs.2,000 per acre, which marginal farmers often find difficult to bear." "A marginal farmer saves money by burning the stubble instead of hiring equipment."...