Monday, 06 MAY 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
With forest fires still continuing in various parts of the State, chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami held a telephonic conversation with the chief secretary Radha Raturi and issued instructions to check the forest fires on Sunday. The chief minister directed that all the district magistrates should consistently monitor forest fires daily for one week. He also directed the district magistrates to ban all types of stubble burning for a period of one week with immediate effect. In addition to this the urban local bodies were also directed to ensure that the solid waste collected by them is not set on fire in or near forest areas.
It is pertinent to mention here that summer temperatures along with dry conditions continue to provide ideal conditions in which forest fires are raging in various parts of the State. According to the Forest Survey of India, on Sunday there were a total of 137 active large fire events reported in the State. At least four persons have died so far in the State due to forest fires which have also damaged a large area of forests.
Earlier, on Saturday, the Uttarakhand police arrested three men from Bihar for allegedly encouraging forest fires in the State. The Chamoli police arrested the trio identified as Brijesh Kumar, Salman and Shukhlal after a video of the three men went viral on social media. In the video they were seen standing near a burning forest while claiming that they were busy setting fire to dry leaves. The area in the video clip was reported to be Gairsain in Chamoli district. The police arrested the three men and booked them under the Forest Act and the Indian Penal Code. Meanwhile, a number of cases have been registered in different parts of the State pertaining to forest fires so far.
It is pertinent to mention here that the forest fires are taking place at a time when the start of the Char Dham Yatra is less than a week away. The shrines of Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are slated to be reopened to the devotees on May 10.
