The Haryana government has imposed a ban on preparing paddy nurseries before May 15 and planting paddy before June 15 in the state under the Haryana Preservation of Sub-Soil Water Act,2009.
Stating this in Chandigarh, a spokesman of the agriculture department said that the ban had been imposed in view of continuously depleting underground water in the state due to indiscriminate use of water resources and scanty rainfall over the past few years. The farmers violating these orders would be liable to be punished under the Act. Their crops would be destroyed on their expenditure and fine of Rs 10,000 per hectare per month would also be imposed on them, he added.
The spokesman urged the farmers to observe the provisions of this Act and not to plant paddy before June 15 in their own and national interest.