Less damage due to forest fires in Maharashtra this year
   Date :03-Jul-2020

Allapalli _1  H
 A forestman extinguishing fire using air blower in Compartment No. 62/63 in
Allapalli Forest Range.
 
 
By Ramesh Marulkar :
 
Various measures taken by Forest Department for forest fire protection have led to reduction in forest areas from burning this year. Precious trees, bushes and grass in only 12,904 hectares areas were reduced to ashes from January to June this year as against damaging of 35,784 ha in jungle during the corresponding period last year all over Maharashtra. As many as 32,063 ha jungle was gutted in fire in 2017 while the figure in 2018 was 45,290 ha and it was 36,571 ha in 2019.
 
The department strengthened monitoring and patrolling in sensitive areas, created awareness among the villagers in and around jungle, held training for field staff, officers, villagers, workshops, distributed pamphlets, installed hoardings, raised water storage, constructed temporary protection huts, deployed sufficient number of fire watchers at watch towers and those moving in jungle, exchanged fire information on WhatsApp group etc. The department also launched incentive scheme in Sipna Wildlife Division of Melghat Tiger Reserve for villagers by giving them cash prizes from Rs 10,000 to Rs one lakh. The villagers co-operated and the result was only 35 fire cases occurred causing damages in 168 ha as against 221 cases reducing jungle to ashes in 2,221 ha last year in this division. Dr Suresh Chandra Gairole, the outgoing Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Head of Forest Force), held his first meeting on forest fires with the officials. The officers have informed various forest divisions to launch the incentive scheme like Sipna so as to get desired results.
 
This year, many cases of forest fires occurred in Sironcha, Bhamragarh, Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Satara and Alibagh. As most of the fires are man made, the department distributed agro nets to tribals and villagers in Gadchiroli, Chandrapur, Gondia districts and in Melghat area for collecting Mahua flowers. It is observed that some persons kindle fire for collection of these flowers but now the villagers put these nets under the Mahua trees and immediately collect the flowers. This saved their time and remaining in jungle for long time also leads to man-animal conflict. However, the conflict cases are also reduced. This was disclosed by Mohan Karnat, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Protection), while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ here on Thursday.
 
He said that the period of fire season was from February 15 to June 15 and hence the department vigorously implemented various measures to reduce fire cases. Forestmen completed fire lining works from November to January with a view to detaching one portion of forest from other. In case of fire, one particular portion burns but the fire does not spread to adjoining area. The department gets fire alerts from Forest Survey of India and also it receives information from fire watchers equipped with map, binocular, compass or Hello 1926 system that enabled fire fighting team and other staff to swing into action without any loss of time. Field staff members immediately start extinguishing the fire with the help of air blowers. Moreover, district-level Disaster Management Committees are formed under the chairmanship of respective Collectors.
 
The Divisional Commissioner is also part of the committee. Divisional Forest Officers meet the Collectors regularly to tell about difficulties, seek co-operation from other departments such as requiring fire brigade and to seek guidance, Karnat said. Meanwhile, the Central Government has sanctioned Rs 9.80 crore to the department on June 14 for implementing Centrally-sponsored schemes in this regard and it will get the funds through State Government. The department has prepared new Crisis Disaster Management Plan in Respect of Forest Fire for 2020-21 and it will submit it to the Centre in a week or so. The management mentions about way of functioning, requirements, awareness/training, possible expenditure and other aspects, Karnat added. Sanjay Dahiwale, Conservator of Forest, was present on the occasion.