Warns that politically exploiting disasters to level allegations may be detrimental to public
Wednesday, 08 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Bharatiya Janata Party State president and Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Bhatt has stressed on the importance of public participation in efforts to control forest fires while exhorting all the cooperate. He expressed satisfaction at efforts being undertaken on a war footing by chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to overcome this disaster. Further, Bhatt also appreciated the cooperation provided by the public and expressed hope that the forest fires will be brought under control soon.
Bhatt said that the State government is working according to a plan for disaster management. However, the forest fires were exacerbated due to less than expected rain and snowfall in the State during the winter and spring seasons, he said. “The whole State machinery is working round the clock under CM Dhami’s leadership to tackle this situation. Teams of the Forest department, police, Fire Service, National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force and working untiringly to control the wildfires. The CM himself is taking the situation seriously and minutely monitoring the efforts to tackle forest fires. His decisions to seek the assistance of the armed forces and to impose the Gangster Act on those who repeatedly light forest fires are appreciable,” Bhatt said. He further opined that Dhami cancelling his scheduled tours and returning to the State to be with those fighting the forest fires shows his sensitivity. The forest fires are damaging the forests, farms and the environment while also affecting the lives of the people. In such a situation, the government, non-governmental and voluntary organisations need to work together to check the wildfires, he added.
The BJP State president also appealed to the Congress and other opposition parties to work by rising above partisan lines in this situation. “Nobody will benefit from politics on an issue which damages the life and property of the people. The politics of considering disasters an opportunity to benefit by levelling allegations may prove detrimental to the public,” he said.
