
Dehradun, January 8, 2025
A meeting of the District Forest Fire Safety Committee was held under the chairmanship of District Magistrate Savin Bansal at Rishiparna Auditorium, Collectorate. The discussion emphasized the crucial role of forest panchayats and local residents in controlling forest fire incidents. The District Magistrate directed the formation of forest panchayats by February 20, appointing Sub-Divisional Magistrate Gaurav Chatwal as the nodal officer for the process.
Key Highlights of the Meeting:
- Financial Support to Forest Panchayats:
The District Magistrate assured all possible financial assistance to forest panchayats for effective functioning. Awareness programs will be conducted at the local level to engage the community in forest fire prevention. - Coordination Between Departments:
He stressed the importance of close coordination between the Revenue and Forest Departments to address forest fires in civil forest areas during the fire season. From February 15, forest department personnel will be on duty at the 24×7 disaster control room for quick information exchange. - Use of Technology:
Divisional Forest Officer informed the committee about ongoing awareness programs and introduced the “Forest Fire Uttarakhand” mobile app, enabling citizens to report forest fire incidents promptly. - Community Training and Verification:
- Padma Shri Dr. Kalyan Singh Rawat “Maati” suggested organizing training and awareness programs at the village and school levels to strengthen community ties with forests and water conservation.
- Committee member Vinod Prasad Juglan recommended verifying individuals living near forest areas to prevent external interference.
The meeting underscored the collective responsibility of government bodies, forest panchayats, and citizens in protecting Uttarakhand’s forests from fire hazards.