By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 25 Dec: The Forest Department has been directed by Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal to intensify advance preparations to combat possible forest fires. These directions were issued by the Minister during a review meeting of the department held last evening. In view of the fact that hundreds of fire incidents are reported from Uttarakhand forests every year which result in wide destruction of the forests and loss of human and wildlife, a meeting to review advance preparations to combat forest fires was chaired by Uniyal in Dehradun yesterday. During the meeting, Uniyal discussed strategies for effective control of forests in the coming months.
During the review meeting, it was decided that the entire responsibility of controlling forest fire incidents would rest with the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) concerned. Each district’s Nodal Divisional Forest Officer will hold meetings with the respective District Magistrates to get the District Level Forest Fire Management Plan-2025 approved. Uniyal instructed that all plans must be submitted to the Forest Headquarters by 10 January 2025.
It was also stated that all fire alerts received from the Indian Forest Survey in Dehradun would be verified, and a feedback report sent. Information about the actual situation and departmental actions would also be released periodically. In addition to departmental personnel, Pradhans, area Panchayat members, forest fire management committees, disaster friends, and forest panchayat sarpanches will be linked with the fire alert system to minimise the response time for forest fire control.
Uniyal stated that the budget allocated for controlling forest fires must be utilised promptly and according to the rules to improve the arrangements. Forest fire management committees, forest panchayats, and women and youth Mangal Dals that actively contribute to forest fire control should also be honoured. It was also decided that the successful efforts of public participation (Sheetlakhet model) under the Almora forest division should be adopted in other districts as well. Exposure visits would be organised for forest fire management committees and departmental personnel from other districts.
It was also decided in the meeting that to enhance forest fire control, water tanks, perfusion tanks, and chal-khal would would be constructed in sensitive forest areas to increase the moisture regime. Special emphasis would be placed on the collection of Pirul (Pine needles) for forest fire control, supporting entrepreneurs in setting up units to produce briquettes, pellets, and other bioproducts from Pirul.
While reviewing the CAMPA scheme, the Minister directed that expenditure be increased immediately while improving the quality of works, as only three months remain in this financial year. He also stated that the proposals be sent immediately according to the approved APO target of compensatory afforestation for this year.
