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Scheme to check forest fires

Chandigarh: The Punjab Forest Department has launched an Integrated Forest Protection Scheme for proper prevention, control and management of forest fires in the State.

Reviewing the activities of the Forest Department regarding prevention and control of forest fires in a meeting attended by the Senior Forest Officers, Punjab Forest Minister Tiksan Sud said on Wednesday that the Punjab Government was quite concerned about increasing incidents of forest fires and has constructed 97 fire watch towers mainly in hilly areas under Punjab Afforestation Project for timely detection and control of forest fires.

He said that under this scheme 1000 km of fire lines, four water storage structures each of one lakh litre capacity and one fire tender have been provided during 2007-08 for proper prevention, control and management of forest fires in the State. During the current fire season, 124 fires have already been reported affecting 6537.4 hectares forest area of the State. Due to these fires, 56 trees and 7150 other saplings were affected.

The estimated loss on account of damage to trees was about Rs. 56,000 and damage to plants Rs.3,50,000. He said that forest fire season commences from April 1 and extends up to June 15. — PTI

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