Saturday, 03 April 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
In order to make measures against forest fires more effective, the principal chief conservator of forests (head of forest force) Rajiv Bhartari has directed all the divisional forest officers (DFOs) to take various steps. In a letter to all the DFOs, the PCCF has directed them to ensure that four to six workers are deputed in each crew station. The mobile numbers of the staff members should be painted outside the crew station to enable the general public to contact them. The crew station staff should be provided necessary equipment, food items and vehicle and the regular presence of the workers should also be ensured along with a record of the works done. Further, to make the crew more effective, drills should be conducted daily in the morning and evening. The crew members should collect and destroy dry leaves, branches etc from firelines daily in the morning and evening. Bhartari also directed that the crew should be briefed before and debriefed after each incident of forest fire. Steps taken to control forest fire incidents should be reviewed so that necessary changes or improvements can be made in the future.
The PCCF pointed out that all the funds under centrally funded and state sector plans along with CAMPA for 2020-21 have been released. An additional sum of Rs 180 crore has also been released for procurement of about 2,000 fire kits and establishment of control rooms under CAMPA 2020-21 supplementary annual work plan. He further pointed out to the department officials that organising the field workers and fire watchers into a team while also ensuring their presence at the crew stations will make the task of tackling forest fires more effective.
