IAF Continues To Douse Forest Fire in Uttarakhand: During a recent review meeting on forest fires, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emphasized the importance of creating fire lines to prevent forest fires. He noted significant progress in controlling forest fires over the past few days and stressed the need to reduce response time to fire incidents for better management.
Strict Action Against Junior Forest Officers
Following a hearing on forest fires in the Supreme Court, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami took decisive action against 17 junior forest officers. Ten officers were suspended, and disciplinary inquiries were initiated against seven others to ensure accountability and effective forest fire management.
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Current Situation and Response Efforts
Despite the government’s submission to the Supreme Court that the emergency regarding forest fires is over, the State Forest Department reported 40 fresh fire incidents on 8th May 2024. In response, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Rudraprayag and emphasized the need for an effective plan to collect pine leaves, known as ‘Pirul’, from forests.
Promoting the Pirul Collection Campaign
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged people across the state to participate in a large-scale campaign to collect Pirul and save forests. To incentivize Pirul collection and prevent forest fires, the government launched the ‘Pirul Lao-Paise Pao’ mission. Under this initiative, Pirul will be purchased at ₹50 per kilogram at designated collection centers, managed by the Pollution Control Board, with a separate corpus fund of ₹50 crore.
IAF Support in Dousing Forest Fires
The Indian Air Force (IAF) continues to assist Uttarakhand in dousing forest fires using Mi17 V5 helicopters equipped with Bambi Buckets. On Wednesday, the IAF conducted eight sorties, dumping 17,700 liters of water over the Pauri Garhwal sector to combat forest fires. Over the past few days, the IAF has conducted 23 sorties, spending 11 and a half hours and using 44,600 liters of water to control forest flames.
Conclusion: Collective Efforts for Forest Conservation
The efforts of the Uttarakhand government, including strict measures against forest officers and the implementation of the Pirul collection campaign, underscore the importance of collective action in preventing forest fires. With continued support from agencies like the IAF and active participation from citizens, the state aims to mitigate the threat of forest fires and preserve its natural resources for future generations.
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