The Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department in Yamunanagar has initiated action against farmers violating groundwater conservation rules by carrying out early transplantation of paddy in the district.
Officials of the department conducted an inspection in Naharpur village on Friday and found that several farmers had transplanted paddy before the permitted date.
Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer, Jagadhri, Dr Ajay Narwal, along with Block Agriculture Officer Dr Santosh Kumar, inspected agricultural fields in the village.
During the inspection, five farmers were found to have transplanted paddy over about 13 acres of land ahead of schedule.
According to the Groundwater Conservation Act, 2009, sowing of paddy nurseries before May 15 and transplantation of paddy before June 15 are prohibited in Haryana. The rule has been implemented to conserve rapidly depleting groundwater resources.
Deputy Director of Agriculture, Yamunanagar, Dr Aditya Partap Dabas said that notices had been issued to the farmers found violating the rules.
“The farmers concerned have been informed about the regulations and given five days to destroy the illegally transplanted paddy crop on their own,” said Dabas.
He warned that strict action would be taken if the farmers failed to comply with the notices.
Dabas also appealed to farmers not to transplant paddy before June 15 in order to support groundwater conservation efforts in the state.
