With the advent of summer the rising temperature has seen a spurt in incidents of forest fires across the State.
Though only minor fires have been reported so far, the department claims that it has made necessary arrangements and is working to raise awareness especially among rural populations to control fires sparked off by humans.According to sources, about 200 hectares has been burnt in forest fires so far this year.
However, a Haldwani based RTI activist has alleged that a senior forest officer in-charge of facilitating the purchase of fire fighting tools has orchestrated a major anomaly by accepting an overpriced bid for tools including metal brooms which were rejected last year as they spread fire in stead of extinguishing it.
It should be mentioned that last year more than 2,000 hectares of forests were affected by forest fires. So far this year, forest fires have affected about 200 hectares.
The department claims to have undertaken elaborate measures to tackle the fires with more than a 1000 crew stations being established across the State. As in past years, the department claims to have undertaken awareness drives targeting villagers. The principal chief conservator of forests too has been touring and inspecting preparations to tackle forest fires in the State.
However, amidst all this, Haldwani based RTI activist Gurvinder Singh Chadha has alleged that chief conservator of forests KS Samant has orchestrated a scame in the purchase of tools for fighting forest fires. “The tender accepted by the department quotes the price of each unit of tool at Rs 3184 whereas these tools are available for about Rs 1,500 in the market. A bid quoting a price of Rs 2374 was rejected on the flimsy grounds that it was received by courier. In the purchase of 4,000 tools the corrupt officials will swindle at least Rs 40 lakh,” said Chadha.
Apart from accepting overpriced bid, the department is also purchasing metal brooms though these were rejected last year because in stead of extinguishing fire, these tools actually cause the fire to spread, he added. Chadha has complained to the PCCF about this anomaly.
The PCCF could not be contacted as his mobile phone was switched off while even the CCF was not available on the phone.