The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has alerted Indian States including Jharkhand to save forest from summer fire. Incidence of forest fire ranges from March to the first onset of rain water in June.

Sources said the Uttrakhand High Court has also asked for a fire free forest and in the event of fire, officials accountability is to be fixed.

Sources said the NGT has shot off letter to principal chief conservator of forest Jharkhand in this connection and PCCF   in response to it has alerted chief conservator of forest cum field director tiger reserve Palamu to ensure control, contain and minimization of forest fire in the PTR.

Field director PTR M P Singh said ‘ A PCCF letter to this effect has reached us and anti fire measures are on the anvil here in this tiger reserve’.

PTR has a deciduous forest and as such leaf fall is high and where there is a high leaf fall there is equally a high proneness to fire.

Sources said PTR personnel contain and control fire with no fire tender but by broom. Fire lines are cut. It prevents the spread of fire.

M P Singh said, “I have asked officials to introduce community patrolling.  Fire blowers are to be bought. These fire blowers would help fight those fires which are caused by the mahua seed, fruit pickers. An assistant conservator of forest S P Khess has been made a nodal officer.”

 M P Singh said he has directed the PTR officials to equip fire fighter with fire kit like anti fire dress, shoes, helmet and a drink of alkaliser as heat of forest fire sweats out the fire manager.

On being asked if PTR has been given fund for fire control measures M P Singh said ‘ We had submitted our fire management plan worth 47 lakhs of rupees but it is yet to be sanctioned and we understand the financial year is just nearing its end this March 31 and we will be made to wait further’.

Field director said the PTR officials are collecting fire data of the last year vis a vis with data of four years also to help identify the locale of the PTR which is most prone/vulnerable to forest fire.Sources said majority of forest fires are man made in PTR.

DFO buffer Mahaling said there are five fire watch towers in buffer areas like Mundu, Kujrum Rood etc. DFO buffer agreed that a big forest fire erupted at Roal village which was contained after great efforts.

Field director has asked PTR officials to rope in members of Eco Development Committee (EDC) to do anti fire patrolling .  Anti fire patroller is to get 2,000 a month said sources.