Garhwal Commissioner Dilip Javalkar expressed concern over the consistent rise in forest fire incidents in the Pauri district. He said that the efforts made to tackle the problem so far have not been sufficient. Javalkar stressed that the forest department has to ensure additional efforts in the case of forest fires and prepare a concrete plan for tackling the problem. To mitigate the forest fires, apart from the district administration staff, the local public should be motivated to cooperate voluntary, said Javalkar while chairing a meeting to review works done to tackle forest fires on weekend. The meeting was attended by Pauri District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent of police, divisional forest officer and other officials fo the forest and irrigation departments.
Addressing the officials, the Garhwal commissioner said that the region is covered with the forests which makes is all the more serious an issue that forest fires have been rising consistently. The efforts being undertaken to tackle the forest fires are evidently not enough. Javalkar directed the departmental officials to ensure effective action in case of forest fire. The forest department and Kalagarh tiger reserve officials spoke of insufficient resources and man power and said that the department has limited vehicles and equipment necessary to tackle the forest fires. It was stated in the meeting that more than 207 crew stations had been established in the different forest ranges of the district.
The Garhwal commissioner instructed forest department to ensure quick action on the public complaints adding that the department should establish coordination with other government departments and local people so that the forest fires can be brought under control without delay. The telephone number of complaint centre should be provided to Gram Pradhan, Nyay Panchayat, Yuva Mangal Dal, police department, revenue and the other government departments, he said. Javalkar also directed the district magistrate to ensure that a meeting on fire safety is held with the officials of linear departments and the local public. The forest fire incident data should be updated in the district disaster control room. Javalkar asked the district level departments to be prepared twenty four hours for assistance during forest fire and strictly directed to go physically to the spot instead of completing the formality on paper. Additional commissioner Harak Singh Rawat, District Magistrate Sushil Kumar, SSP Jagat Ram Joshi, DFO Garhwal division laxman Singh Rawat, DFO Kalagarh tiger reserve AK Tripathi, DFO lansdowne Sant Ram and others were present in the meeting.