Forests will be protected from fires with the participation of people and modern techniques – Praveen Kumar

Forests will be protected from fires with the participation of people and modern techniques These words were uttered by Mr. Praveen Kumar, IFS. This was stated by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), Punjab SAS Nagar while addressing a meeting of all Forest Divisional Officers and Forest Range Officers of Forest Complex Sector-68 Mohali (Hills Zone).

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The emergency meeting was called by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), Punjab SAS Nagar in view of the onset of summer season. Apart from all the Forest Divisional Officers and Forest Range Officers, the senior officers of the Forest Department, Chief Conservator of Forests (PBIP), and Chief Conservator of Forests (Hills), Punjab and Conservator of Forests Shiwalik Circle Punjab was also present. During the meeting all the field staff shared their experiences. Meanwhile, the Forest Divisional Officer Hoshiarpur and Divisional Forest Divisional Officer Mohali explained in detail the causes of fires and prevention, fire control and post fire damage through Power Point Presentation. Apart from this S. Mahavir Singh, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests (Hills), Punjab under the Green Punjab Mission enlightened the Forest Protection Committees set up in the villages and self help groups to keep up with the times by imparting modern training in various occupations to raise their standard of living. Found and Sh. Vishal Chauhan, IFS, Conservator of Forests Shiwalik Circle Punjab to involve Forest Protection Committees, Eco Clubs, Youth Clubs, Religious Institutions and the general public in saving forests from fires.

An appeal was made. Similarly Sh. Basanta Raj Kumar, IFS Chief Conservator of Forests (PBIP), while informing about the importance of eco-tourism in forests, called upon the people to invest in it as much as possible, so as to create awareness among the people about forests and provide employment to the locals could Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF), Punjab SAS Nagar on the basis of old fire fighting techniques as well as new technologies such as drone camera, fire fighting and modern firefighting equipment and on the basis of alerts received through satellite.

All the staff was instructed to control and they also urged to form an inter-state committee to prevent fire from entering the forest from the adjoining states like Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. He also asked to ensure the participation of the people under various ongoing schemes of the department and to raise their living standards and reduce their dependence on forests. He further admonished the staff to ensure that an FIR be registered against them if any one set fire intentionally and asked the staff to make as many people as possible aware. That he also instructed all the forest officer to prepare their fire action plan before 15th of March and he also appealed to the farmers not to burn crop residue which also causes forest fires and also instructed to all Divisional Forest Officers to prepare the action plan.