Sikander Gulzar
Srinagar, April 7 : Forest fires erupted on Monday in Tral-Khrew range of south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Officials told GNS that fire is raging In Tral side in the areas like Buchoo, Mandoora, Batnoor, Shaldraman, Zradihar, Nagbal and Aripal. Also, they said, in Khrew side, fire is raging in Khrew, Bathan, Zantrag, Satpokhran,Goswanar and Wahasahab.
“We are doing our best but in multiple forest areas it is not as easy to control the blaze,” they added.
Earlier in the day, Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology & Environment Department, Sheetal Nanda, chaired a meeting to review the preparedness and action plan for forest fires management.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Suresh Gupta; Chief Wildlife Warden, Sarvesh Rai; Additional PCCF, T Rabi Kumar; Director, Forest Protection Force, Sandeep Kujur; Secretary in Forest Department, Pardeep Kumar; Chief Conservator of Forests, Jammu/Kashmir and other senior officers of the department attended the meeting.
“The meeting had a detailed discussion on the prevailing scenario with regard to forest fires.
It was informed that the Kashmir Division is prone to forest fires during March and April and less precipitation during the recent winters has increased the risk of these incidents,” government said in an official statement.
It was also revealed that in addition to natural reasons, the forest fires are also being caused by the “unscrupulous elements”, it said. “While the Department is taking preventive measures to mitigate these fires due to natural causes, it has also initiated action against the culprits who deliberately set forest fires,” it said, adding, “There are 8 FIRs lodged in this regard, and the investigation has been initiated by the Police Department.” (GNS)
