https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Dousing of Stubble Fires in Gurdaspur by ‘Vatavaran De Rakhe’

DC Himanshu Aggarwal has launched 'Vatavaran De Rakhe,' to curb stubble burning and promote responsible environmental practices The initiative rewards farmers who refrain from stubble burning with 'Vatavaran De Rakhe' certificate, granting privileges in government offices and priority status in developmental projects It has garnered positive responses from the farmers and as it also provides them with machines to convert stubble into useful products
Indian Masterminds Stories

To bring an end to the persistent issue of stubble burning in the district, 2014 batch IAS officer Himanshu Aggarwal, the Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur, Punjab, has unveiled an innovative initiative named ‘Vatavaran De Rakhe’ (Protectors of Environment). The initiative aims to encourage farmers and communities to refrain from stubble burning and promote responsible environmental practices.

Last year, Gurdaspur witnessed approximately 850 instances of stubble burning, highlighting the urgent need for a sustainable solution. In response, ‘Vatavaran De Rakhe’ was launched as a localized awareness campaign focussing on the 55 hotspot villages where more than 10 stubble burning incidents were recorded in the previous year.

VATAVARAN DE RAKHE

Speaking to Indian Masterminds, DC Himanshu Aggarwal explained, “Rather than adopting punitive measures against farmers and individuals resorting to stubble burning, we want to appreciate those who abstain from it. As part of this initiative, we have pledged to award the ‘Vatavaran De Rakhe’ certificate to farmers and panchayats that refrained from stubble burning last year and commit to not burning it this year.”

IAS officer Himanshu Aggarwal asking farmers to take pledge for not burning stubble

The certificate, acting as a form of recognition, grants holders certain privileges when dealing with government offices. Farmers and communities possessing this certificate can expedite their interactions with government entities, effectively jumping queues for various services.

Furthermore, villages awarded the ‘Vatavaran De Rakhe’ certificate will receive priority status in developmental projects.

COMMITTEE

To oversee the initiative’s implementation, a committee has been formed, consisting of senior administrative officers, the Chief Agriculture Officer, and a senior officer from the pollution control board. This committee will assess applications from those who have refrained from stubble burning and organize an awards ceremony at the end of the season, around the last week of November.

POSITIVE RESPONSE

Mr. Aggarwal reported that the initiative has already garnered positive responses, particularly from individual farmers who are committed to reducing stubble burning incidents. The ultimate goal is to decrease stubble burning incidents by more than 50% compared to the previous year’s 450 incidents.

TIE-UP FROM COMPANIES

As part of the ex-situ management approach, the initiative provides farmers with baler and rake machines to cut and convert stubble into bales. These bales are then transported to various industries where they are used as fuel, particularly in boiler machines. Additionally, stubble can be converted into pallets through a palletization process, with five businessmen applying to establish such industries in the district. “Two of these applications have already been sanctioned, paving the way for the utilization of stubble pallets in brick kilns,” the officer shared.

The officer further informed that this year, Gurdaspur distributed 118 rake and baler machines to farmers and has also witnessed the emergence of a separate industry supplying these machines directly to farmers. DC Himanshu Aggarwal expressed optimism, anticipating the growth of more such industries in the coming months.

CROP RESIDUE MANAGEMENT

In the context of crop residue management, two methods are employed: in-situ and ex-situ methods. While in-situ management involves mixing stubble back into the soil to enhance soil fertility, ex-situ management collects and utilizes stubble elsewhere. “Currently, Gurdaspur boasts around 5000 in-situ machines and approximately 200 ex-situ machines in operation,” the officer shared.

The ‘Vatavaran De Rakhe’ initiative represents a concerted effort to protect the environment, promote sustainable agricultural practices, and reduce the harmful consequences of stubble burning in the region. With the active participation of farmers, communities, and local businesses, Gurdaspur aims to make significant strides towards a cleaner and greener future.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Odisha Government
Odisha Elevates Two Promising IFS Officers to Senior Time Scale, Strengthening Forest Leadership - Know More About Them
Yogi Adityanath UP
Uttar Pradesh Floods: CM Yogi Adityanath Forms ‘Team-11’ for Swift and Transparent Flood Relief Across 12 Districts
DGR Job Fair
DGR Job Fair 2025 Held in Delhi to Empower Ex-Servicemen with Career Opportunities in Emerging Tech - Details Inside
omc
Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) Begins Dispatch from Dubna Mines, Strengthening Supply Chain and Industrial Growth
NFDC
NFDC Launches Free Residential 3D Animation & VFX Training for North East Youth - Here's All You Need To Know
CM Yogi
CM Yogi Adityanath Reviews Rs. 42,891 Crore Development Proposals for Lucknow Division, Emphasizes Timely, Inclusive Execution
Mahanadi River
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai Assures Odisha of Consideration on an Amicable Solution to Mahanadi Water Dispute
MP News
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav Pays Tribute to Pt. Ravishankar Shukla on His Birth Anniversary
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
How IAS Karn Satyarthi Transformed Gumla Through Empathy and Innovation
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
IRAS Ananth Rupanagudi’s Take on Corruption, Reform, and Duty
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
What Most Indians Don't Know About Jim Corbett
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
BPSC Bihar police
From Lantern Light to Police Uniform: How Praveen Kumar from a Small Bihar Village Cracked BPSC to Become SDPO
From a lantern-lit village in Bihar to becoming an SDPO, Praveen Kumar's journey is a testament to resilience,...
IAS Priyansha Garg
Why Mindset Matters: IAS Priyansha Garg’s Mental Health Mantra for UPSC
After two failed prelims, Priyansha Garg cracked UPSC with AIR 31 in her fourth attempt, proving how...
Ashish Akshat
From Setback to State Topper: How Ashish Akshat Topped JPSC While Working Full-Time
Ashish Akshat from Dhanbad topped JPSC 2023, proving that resilience, discipline, and family support...
Social Media
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve
Mudumalai Tiger Reserve: From India’s First Sanctuary to a Tiger Conservation Success Story | International Tiger Day Special
IAS Supriya Sahu Hails Mudumalai's Role in Tiger Conservation on Tiger Day. Declared in 1940, Now Among...
Mangroves
Mangroves: Nature’s Shield Against Disasters, Says Officer Parveen Kaswan on Mangroves Day - Watch His Post Here
Mangroves, with their dense, interlaced root systems, form a mesh-like structure that serves as a buffer...
Retired IPS Inderjit Singh Sidhu
Purpose Doesn’t Retire: How 88-Year-Old Retired DIG Becomes Chandigarh’s ‘Quiet Warrior’ of Cleanliness
Inderjit Singh Sidhu’s Dawn Patrol Earns Applause, Mahindra’s Praise for a Man Who Chose Action Over...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Odisha Government
Odisha Elevates Two Promising IFS Officers to Senior Time Scale, Strengthening Forest Leadership - Know More About Them
Yogi Adityanath UP
Uttar Pradesh Floods: CM Yogi Adityanath Forms ‘Team-11’ for Swift and Transparent Flood Relief Across 12 Districts
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Karn Satyarthi
Ananth Rupanagudi IRAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-26 at 13.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT