With the onset of summer, the issue of forest fires looms large. The presence of large swathes of dry, deciduous forest areas prone to fires has impelled the Forest Department to come out with preventive measures.
“We have laid 5-metre-wide lines, cutting through forests so that in case of fire, it doesn’t spread. Almost all forest fires are man-made and so we are sensitising local communities on ways to prevent them,’’ Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Iliyas Rizvi said on Wednesday.
Forests in the State had a large numbers of pine and pine tar trees that are susceptible to catching fire. Keeping this in view, the department had recently launched a Fire Monitoring Cell at the State Headquarters here. The cell sends instant alerts on fires with geographic indicators to personnel concerned, including the PCCF and forest guards, he said.
“Controlling forest fires is essential to preserving and enhancing the 27% green cover in the State. We want to enhance it to 50% by 2029 by taking up planting along road margins, hillocks, canal bunds, railway lines and highways,’’ said Mr. Rizvi.
The department had chalked out an action plan to increase the green cover.