Despite rain, forest fires rage in lower hills

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 4

In spite of moderate rain in some parts of Himachal forest fires continued to rage in lower hills and five dozen more cases of small ground fires occurred during past 24 hours. With 60 more cases of forest fires, the total number of ground fires in the state has risen to 614 and about 6,600 hectare area was affected by these fires, Forest Department officials said. However, the rains doused the fires raging in forests in surrounding areas of Kasauli and Shimla and normalcy had been restored.

The Forest Department has stepped up the vigil in the forest and “fire watchers” have been asked to remain alert and inform about any incident of fires to concerned officials immediately. Dry pine needles, which are highly inflammable, are being sold to cement plants at Rs 2-per kg and villagers are being encouraged to remove and collect the dry pine needles carpeting the forests, said a spokesman of forest department.

Meanwhile, state BJP chief Satpal Singh Satti has accused the government of not taking effective steps to “prevent and control” forest fires and demanded a “white paper” on recent forest fires. “The forests are burning but the government has become a mute spectator and we demand a white paper on forest fire”, he said in a statement issued here today.

Satti said it was a matter of grave concern that the forest department did not make any preparations in advance to combat forest fires in spite of the fact that the department had anticipated more fire incidents this year.

As per the media reports, the government has assessed the loss due to forest fires at Rs 62 lakh but the loss has run into crores and the claims of the government are misleading and new plantations have been burnt, he said.

Not only the forests, but even the orchards, fields, cowsheds and houses in areas adjoining the forests have suffered massive damage, Satti claimed.

He also criticised the Irrigation and Public Health Minister for making “misleading” statements that there was no water shortage in the state, which amounts to giving clean chit to IPH Department. He also demanded a “white paper” on water supply position in the state.