Stubble Burning Banned In Dist After Bhiwapur Inferno

Nagpur: In the wake of the devastating fire at Dhamangaon (Vidyamandir) village in Bhiwapur tehsil on May 2, the district administration has imposed a complete ban on open burning of agricultural waste, invoking Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.Collector Kumar Ashirwad on Tuesday issued the prohibitory order following findings that the Dhamangaon blaze, which gutted more than 50 houses, originated from burning of stubble in nearby fields. The incident caused large-scale damage to homes and livestock, though no human casualties were reported.The order prohibits farmers from burning crop residue such as fodder stalks, chaff, and other agricultural waste in the open. It warns that violators will face legal action under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Authorities have also directed departments to conduct awareness drives and assist farmers with alternative methods of managing crop waste.Highlighting the risks, officials noted that such fires often spiral out of control, leading to damage to villages, forest areas and property, besides posing a threat to human life. The practice also contributes to air pollution, soil degradation, and economic losses.The move comes amid calls for stricter regulations following the Bhiwapur incident. Guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule during his visit to Bhiwapur had stressed the need for a dedicated law to curb stubble burning. He pointed out that there have been "thousands of such cases across Maharashtra", where fires originating in fields spread to nearby settlements.Bawankule also called for aligning state policy with central disaster management norms to ensure compensation for fire-related losses, while directing strict action against those responsible for the Bhiwapur blaze.A 35-year-old farmer, Kailash Dhakulkar, was arrested for allegedly triggering the Dhamangaon blaze by setting fire to stubble and agricultural residue on his field. According to Bhiwapur police, the farmer left for the weekly market without ensuring the fire was fully extinguished. With the new order in place, administration aims to prevent a repeat of such incidents and strengthen enforcement, even as relief and rehabilitation efforts continue in the fire-affected village.