Mobile app to check forest fires, helpline to thwart conflict & crimes in the wild
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Forest department has developed the forest fire Uttarakhand mobile application and established an integrated command and control centre (ICCC) at the headquarter level to strengthen its information, warning and management system for tackling forest fires and other issues related to forests and wildlife.
This app will be used by departmental personnel along with self help groups, Mahila/Yuva Mangal Dal, forest fire management committees, Sarpanch, Gram Pradhan and members of Van Panchayats and volunteers of the Hans Foundation.
Informing the media here on Saturday, the principal chief conservator of forests Dhananjai Mohan said that a helpline number 1926 is being operated through the ICCC to handle issues like human-wildlife conflict, forest fires, illegal tree felling, encroachment and poaching, among other issues. Mohan said that in order to effectively mitigate forest fires in very vulnerable areas during the 2025 forest fire season, senior departmental officials have been made nodal officers at the district level to ensure required resources and strengthening coordination with linear departments.
He said that considering the three-year data received from the Forest Survey of India, the least fire alerts have been received so far this year during the three-year period with 1,347 alerts being received between November 1, 2024 and March 20 this year. He informed that 1,844 alerts have been received in corresponding period the 2022-23 forest fire season and 3,084 had been received during the corresponding period in 2023-2024 forest fire season. According to the FSI near real time fire alert list, Uttarakhand was at the 15th position from November 1, 2024 to March 26 this year.
The PCCF further said that as part of measures to check forest fires, the earlier rate of Rs three per kilogramme for pirul (dry pine needles) was amended to Rs 10 per kilogramme to encourage the local villagers to collect and sell pirul to the department. The divisional forest officers concerned have been directed to encourage the five establishment pallet/briquettes units which use pirul. In addition to these, the divisional forest officers concerned have identified entrepreneurs and are undertaking the process
for establishing seven new units. Memoranda of understanding have been signed for three new units in Almora district and one unit in Champawat district, he said.
