Wednesday, 08 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ganesh Godiyal has said that forest fires raging in Uttarakhand should be declared a national disaster. He claimed that about 75 per cent of the forests in the mountainous areas of the State are affected by wildfires. The fire has not only damaged the flora of the forests but large numbers of wild animals have also died in the fire. He said that the wildfires have also taken a toll on human lives and the villagers hit by the forest fires are looking at the government to take prompt action to control the fires. He said that the fires have been raging in the mountainous parts of the State for the last one month but the government is paying no attention to it. The Congress leader said that the government and leaders are busy in the elections and for them the plight of people and wildlife holds no significance.
Godiyal demanded that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take immediate cognisance of the forest fires raging in Uttarakhand and direct the administration to take immediate action on a war footing to control the fire from spreading. He said that the PM should declare the forest fire in Uttarakhand a national disaster. The Congress leader who is contesting the Garhwal Lok Sabha constituency said that he was raising concern on the forest fires from the month of March and during his election campaign but the government took no notice. He said that the planners should come up with an immediate plan and a long term plan to tackle the menace of forest fires in the State. Godiyal also appealed to the villagers and local people to come out in dousing the forest fires in their vicinity.
