nMahasamund Collector Kartikeya Goyal on Thursday told officials to take strict action against those who burn crop residue in their fields. A senior officer said fines could go up to `15,000.

The Collector said that harvesting of kharif paddy is in the final stage and many farmers burn the remaining residue in the fields ahead of the Rabi crop. But if they do so, they will face the music, a press release said.

The Collector said the beneficial bacteria in the farm land gets destroyed by burning crop residue besides creating carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane gas and various poisonous gases and air pollution.

The burning also harms the soil and affects human health, the release added.

Agriculture Deputy Director S.R. Dongre said burning crop residue in the field could lead to fines up to `15,000.

He said that under the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Act, there is a provision to fine `2,500 in less than 2 acres, `5000 from 2-5 acres and `15,000 for more than 5 acres besides jailing for six months, it said.

Dongre said the District Magistrate, District and Sessions Judge, Superintendent of Police and Officer of Pollution and Control Board have been authorized to take action.

According to district agriculture officers, good quality manure can be made from crop residue.

They said that hay and straw can provided as animal fodder in the nearest cowsheds and can make super compost manure within a few days by spraying decomposer solution on it instead of burning it.