Once a notorious hotspot, Heron Kalan has emerged as the unlikely hero — transforming itself into a model of stubble-free cultivation.
By Amrit Pal Sidhu
Mansa, November 24
Mansa district has recorded 48% decline in stubble-burning incidents this season compared to last year, while 104 out of 244 villages have achieved 100 stubble management with zero burning.
The most inspiring turnaround has come from Heron Kalan village, which was once among the biggest hotspots in the district. In 2023, the village recorded 45 fire incidents, which dropped to 15 in 2024 and this year not a single case of stubble burning has been reported.
Heron Kalan has now proudly joined the list of “zero-burning villages”. Similarly, Dodra village, which saw 31 incidents in 2023 and 7 in 2024, has also become completely fire-free this season.
Deputy Commissioner Navjot Kaur, IAS, applauded the farmers for their progressive approach and thanked them for responding positively to awareness campaigns and machinery support. “Continuous guidance, timely availability of equipment on subsidy and the willingness of farmers to adopt new techniques have together scripted this success,” she said.
According to satellite data, there were 2253 cases of stubble burning in the district in the year 2023 (between September 15 and November 22), 592 cases in the year 2024, while 304 cases have been reported this year which is 48 percent less than in the year 2024.
Out of the 244 villages of the district, 104 villages are such where 100 percent stubble management has been done and no case of stubble burning has been reported.
Environmental compensation of Rs. 6,65,000 has been imposed in 131 cases of stubble burning in the district. Apart from this, red entries and 131 FIRs have been registered in 131 cases. Warning notices have been issued to 207 nodal officers/supervision officers.
The total area under paddy in the district was 1.46 lakh hectares, out of which 99.90 percent has been harvested so far and 98 percent of wheat has been sown. Under ex situ management, apart from 15 pellet units, bales have been given to Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, Bananwali and Biomass Plant Khokhar.
Under in situ, farmers have managed stubble with Super Seeder, Happy Seeder, Smart Seeder, Baler, SMS Combine+Super Seeder+Zero Till Drill, and seed broadcasting techniques.
Progressive Farmers Spearhead Heron Kalan's Transformation
Farmer Gurmeet Singh, who cultivates 50 acres along with his brothers, has set a shining example by not burning stubble for the last three years.
“This year we managed the entire area without burning. In about 9 acres we made bales and in the remaining fields we incorporated the stubble using Super Seeder and mulching before sowing wheat,” Gurmeet Singh said.
The Deputy Commissioner herself visited our fields recently and encouraged us.” He added.