Forest fires in Rajouri district, DC visit Sawni & witnessed mock fire fighting drill.

GNS ONLINE RAJOURI
SHYAM SOOD
RAJOURI, MAY 01:–Several incidents of massive fire have been reported in different forest areas under Rajouri & Nowshera Forest Divisions in the Rajouri distr ict during the last few days.
Huge trails of smoke were visible even from far away in Sawani, Kallar, Ghrati, Dungi, Bathuni etc areas.
The staff of the Forest Department and Forest Protection Force (FPF), under the supervision of Masud Ahmed, Deputy Director, FPF made every effort to bring the fire under control.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Vikas Kundal, along with DFO Rajouri Dr. Arshdeep Singh, today visited Village Swani and adjoining areas to check the ground situation of the incidents of the Forest Fire.
Deputy Director, Forest Protection Force (FPF) and Tehsildar Rajouri, also accompanied the DC.
At Swani, the Deputy Commissioner interacted with the local populace and said that Forests are community claims and it is the duty of everyone to protect forests from fire.
He also sensitized villagers about the dangers of forest fires and the steps to be taken to prevent forest fires.
He asked the locals to contact chowkidar, lambardar forest guard in case of sighting forest fires.
He clearly directed the level revenue authorities to identify the culprits involved in the forest fire incidents, if man-made.
The Revenue, Police, and Forest officials were asked to work in unanimity to contain the incidents of Forest fire in the district.
The DFO Rajouri was also asked to identify the volunteers at the Panchayat level and later train them on how to prevent forest fires.
The DC Rajouri also attended a Mock Fire fighting drill jointly organised by Forest protection Force and the Fire and emergency department.
The Deputy Commissioner also visited the Forest Eco Park at Bathuni and passed on a slew of recommendations for better and effective management of the park.
Meanwhile, Neelima Shah, DFO Nowshera Divison has said that incidents of forest fires have been reported from across the division including many among them man-made.
“Please bring incident of forest fire immediately to the notice of the department so that the blaze can be controlled at the earliest by the staff of the department,” said Neelima Shah.
She also asked to help the forest department to save the forests because they are to the health of our environment.
She also appeals to identify the persons involved in a man-made forest fire for action against them under the rules & law.