Pauri District Magistrate Chandra Shekhar Bhatt assured on Wednesday that there is no information of a fresh major forest fire from anywhere in the district. “The forest blaze reported from several parts of the district has been put out. However, a few minor fire incidents have been reported from some parts. But they were doused in no time,” he said.
Bhatt said that the ravaging blaze erupting both in reserve and civil forest areas had been contained thanks to the joint and sincere efforts of the forest department, district administration and police. “The joint teams will be here till the rainy season arrives to take care of any fire that might erupt any time in any part of the district. Fifteen vehicles of different departments have been requisitioned for the purpose of dousing blazes and the fuel is being provided by the DFO reserve forest and DFO civil forest for their respective forest areas,” the DM added.
Taking to the media persons at district headquarters, Bhatt further said that 1248 hectares of forested lands had been affected by around 346 incidents of forest fire. “The IAF chopper is still in Srinagar. However, it has not been used for the past few days with no major fire incident being reported,” he said.
Senior superintendent of police Rajeev Swarop said that the objective of the joint operation undertaken to contain forest fire was to ensure that there was be no loss of human life and no damage done to property. “It is successful when viewed against this criteria. We are still on full alert. The police force deputed in the operation will remain deployed till things become absolutely normal,” SSP said.
Divisional forest officer, Garhwal division, Ramesh Chandra said that the loss of the forest property, including plantation, wrought by the recent spate of the forest fire, amounted to Rs7,17,299. He said that 176.25 hectares of forest falling under Garhwal forest division had been affected by 79 such incidents of forest fire. The figures are 40 hectares for lansdowne forest division and 213 hectares for Kalagarh forest division.
DFO Civil Soyam division laxaman Singh Rawat said that reports had been lodged against a person for his attempt to light fire in the forest on Wednesday. Already two cases had been lodged against two persons, including a woman, he added.