Hariom Singh | Dehradun
Forest fires cause considerable damage to Uttarakhand’s major asset every year. In addition to the usual measures to tackle this issue, the Forest department has sought the help of the Pandits in ancient temples to raise public awareness on forest fires. Haldwani divisional forest officer Kundan Kumar informed that a special awareness campaign is being conducted at the village level and in schools through a video van flagged off recently by Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar MP Ajay Bhatt.
The Forest department has also urged local representatives, including Lalkuan MLA Mohan Singh Bisht and Bhimtal MLA Ram Singh Keda to promote fire safety awareness at the village level. Additionally, extensive publicity regarding fire safety is being carried out at traditional fairs in the district. Kumar further said that efforts are being made to educate people about fire safety across the 63,000-hectare forest area under the Haldwani forest division. The campaign also covers the 27,000-hectare Nandhaur wildlife sanctuary and the 36,000-hectare forest region adjacent to Champawat and Nainital.
As part of the initiative, the department is registering devotees visiting ancient temples like Kalichaud, Purnagiri, Byandhura and Surya Devi temple on the Forest Survey of India’s app to track and engage them in fire safety measures.
Haldwani division’s five forest ranges, particularly the highly sensitive Danda range and areas adjoining the hills, are under strict vigilance. With an intensive awareness drive also planned, the Forest department is taking proactive steps to mitigate forest fire risks and protect the region’s rich biodiversity.
