Community participation key to controlling forest fires: Solan DC

Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma, who also serves as the Chairman of the District Disaster Management Committee, emphasised that forest fires can only be controlled through the collective efforts of municipal bodies, village panchayats and local residents.

He made this statement while presiding over a meeting of the third umbrella committee on Wednesday, which was convened to assess forest fire preparedness ahead of the summer season.

Every year, a significant portion of flora and fauna is lost due to forest fires, often triggered by negligent passersby. These fires can escalate quickly, causing damage worth lakhs. To mitigate such losses, the Forest Department has identified 94 highly sensitive forest areas, where intensive monitoring is being carried out.

Sharma urged locals to report forest fire incidents on the emergency toll-free number 1077. He also suggested that night guards be deployed at the village panchayat level, as done in previous years, to help prevent fire outbreaks. He noted that workers engaged under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) could play a crucial role in these efforts and directed the departments of forest, rural, and panchayati raj to collaborate with villagers.

To ensure water availability near fire-prone areas, Sharma instructed the Rural Development Department to construct ponds in forests under MGNREGA. He pointed out that the difficulty in transporting water over long distances during forest fire emergencies exacerbates the damage.

As part of community awareness initiatives, officials have been directed to educate villagers about fire prevention during gram sabha meetings. Additionally, departments will conduct periodic forest monitoring using drones. The Forest Department, in coordination with the Education Department, will also raise awareness among schoolchildren about forest fire control measures.

To enhance responsiveness, the Forest Department will upload daily reports on the fire portal. Divisional Forest Officer Urvashi Thakur provided insights into the causes of forest fires and effective control measures through a detailed presentation. She also informed attendees that controlrooms have been set up across Solan district to handle fire emergencies.