Rising stubble burning incidents pose danger to wildlife in 12 sanctuaries

At 6:30 pm everyday, hundreds of forest guards across the state start their daily routine and keep a hawk’s eye on “sparse” wildlife still in existence in Punjab’s protected forest areas (birs).

With stubble burning becoming an annual ritual, the wildlife inside these sanctuaries is vulnerable to smoke and fire. The Wildlife Department faces a challenge to ensure no fire zone in the 100 metres of the birs. As a result, the department has formed separate teams to monitor the birs.

Chief Wildlife Warden Dharminder Sharma said, “A small fire incident can suddenly engulf large area. Thus, we cannot take chances. We follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the Centre. Our patrolling teams keep a hawk’s eye round the clock post-harvesting.”

Patiala Divisional Forest Officer Neeraj Gupta said the area around every sanctuary is “an eco sensitive zone” where no farmer can set their stubble on fire. “We take help from the police and also from the administration in ensuring that such fields near the forest land are not set on fire,” he said.

At present, there are 12 notified wildlife sanctuaries in the state. The total area under these sanctuaries is 32,370.64 hectares. Of this, 18,650 hectares belong to the Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary comprising 13 Bishnoi villages.

These sanctuaries have wild animals and birds ranging from Black Buck, Chital, Hog Deer, Blue Bull, Wild Boar, Jackal, Rhesus Monkey, Peafowl, Brahminy Myna, Black and Grey Partridges, Quails, Jungle Cat, Black and Grey Partridges, Dove and Spotted Owlet etc.

Notified protected forest areas in state

• n Bir Gurdialpura Sanctuary
• Bir Moti Bagh Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bir Bhunerheri Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bir Mehas Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bir Bhadson Wildlife Sanctuary
• Bir Aishwan Wildlife Sanctuary
• Harike Wildlife Sanctuary
• Takhni Rehmapur Sanctuary
• Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary
• Kathlour Kushalian Sanctuary
• Jhajjar-Bachauli Sanctuary
• Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary