Rohtak, Oct. 12 -- The Haryana agriculture department has initiated drone-based surveillance in Fatehabad district to detect farm fires in real time and strengthen enforcement.

Two drones have been deployed for the initiative, which rolled out initially in Bhiradana village. The drones can remain airborne for an hour and monitor an area within a range of up to three kilometres, complementing conventional monitoring methods that previously relied solely on satellite imagery and data from the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC).

During the first phase, surveillance will target villages categorised as red and yellow zones based on stubble-burning records from the past three years.

Deputy director of agriculture Vinod Phogat said dr...