To check forest fires, all necessary funds and human resources have been made available to all. The services of two helicopters of Indian Air Force have also been taken. One each is being used in Nainital and Pauri. All efforts are being made to control forest fires especially in Dehradun, Pauri, Nainital and Tehri districts.
Governor KK Paul gave all these directions on Saturday while convening a meeting through video conferencing at the Secretariat specially with regard to forest fires and the preparations of Char Dham yatra. He said that the DMs must gather all resources required. The administration would provide the funds. A system should be made in which the information about forest fires is obtained immediately and action taken on this immediately. An incident response system should be activated. Control rooms in districts must work 24x7. The DMs must ensure coordination among all departments. Mass awareness campaigns be launched and gram panchayat, yuva mangal dals, mahila mangal dals and local people should be involved to ensure the control of the fires. Every staff member of the system should be utilised.
The NDRF and SDRF personnel have been sent for help. The DMs should utilise police, Home Guards and PRD personnel. New people posted for checking fires must be briefed properly. Foolproof plans must be made by the DMs to deal with any eventuality. Resources should not be a hurdle.
The Governor said, about the Char Dham yatra, that the number of night shelters in the Kedarnath area must be increased by May 5. Doctors should be posted on Char Dham yatra routes. For a hurdle free yatra, engineers, equipments and labour must be kept ready in landslide prone areas. Potable water and First Aid should be made available. He also gave directions about the drought conditions. The NDRF and SDRF teams have been posted in sensitive places.
Responsibility has been given to police, forest, fires service, PRD, Home Guards and other departments. The SDMs and BDOs are mobilising local resources to check the fires. Action is being taken against people found responsible for fires, he said.
Present at the meeting were advisors to the Governor, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, DGP, DMs and other officers.