Vast tracts of forests razed by fire

Kuldeep Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 7

A series of forest fires for the last few weeks triggered by a prolonged dry spell has devastated 17,257 hectares worth Rs 2.14 crore out of which 7,824. 58 hectares consisted of natural forest, including rare chilgoza, blue pine and juniper jungles in the tribal Kinnaur .

It has exposed all “drawing room talks of fighting natural hazards during disaster management mock drills”and ill-prepared fire-fighting system.

For the fires dry spell has been blamed as disaster management teams remain as mute spectators, said an environmental activist.

So far 1,658 incidents have been reported till December 3, creating a blanket of smog. The fires have engulfed most of the jungles in Kinnaur, Rampur, Bharmour, Shimla, Chopal, Palampur, Una, Mandi, Karsog, Suket, Nachan, Kunihar, Rajgarh, Nahan, Renukaji forest divisions. The loss ranges from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 45 lakh in Kinnaur.

In Kinnaur, the rare chilgoza, blue pine and juniper jungle have continued to burn under the forest fire for the last one month and destroyed more than 50 hectares in the Purbani-Ribba belt, 13 hectares in Sangla and Jangi belts.

The fire remains uncontrolled in the Purbani belt and in all, forest wealth worth Rs 45 lakh has gone up in smoke, the highest loss reported this season.

The fire has destroyed more than 200 rare blue pine trees, displacing local fauna like blue sheep, bears, leopard, deer and birds. “We have controlled fire in Sangla and Jangi and deputed a team of 100 jawans of the ITBP and Home Guard, forest staff and locals in Purbani, but the boulders are falling from the mountains hampering the fire-fighting operation here,” said DFO, Kinnaur, Angel Chauhan.

In Bharmour, fire has destroyed forest wealth in 3,761 hectares, revealed forest officials. Chief Conservator of Forest Fires and Protection HS Dogra said the DFOs had the mandate to control the fire and the teams were trained to deal with the fires. “We expect it will rain soon, but teams are on the job,” he added.