While more than 100 incidents of forest fires have taken place so far in the State, the Forest department has now re-floated tenders for suppliers of equipment to fight forest fires.
The department had earlier floated these tenders in April but soon anomalies were exposed as the supplier selected by the department had overpriced the items and also the subject of a police complaint by Forest Research Institute for forgery.
Considering that the forest fire season ends on June 30, activists have alleged that the department has re-floated the tenders which had to be cancelled twice in the past due to anomalies, simply to secure the `1.50 crore fund provided by the Central Government which will lapse on June 30.
The tenders will be opened on June 15, a mere fortnight before the end of the forest fire season. Sources point out that after being opened, following the approval of the Government, 50 per cent of the equipment will be provided by July 15 while the remaining equipment will be supplied by July 30. Activists are questioning the purpose of acquiring forest fire fighting equipment at the start of the rainy season.
It should be noted that last year about 2,500 hectares of forest land was damaged by forest fires. Since 2009 the equipment was being supplied by Dehradun-based Atul Trading Corporation but the FRI lodged a police complaint against this enterprise. In spite of this, the department has not sought important details like PAN number and ITR from companies submitting tenders.