2 weeks Ago
Around March end and April 1st week the J&K Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) had issued a pre-fire alert warning of a ‘Very High Forest Fire Risk’ over marked forest areas in Bandipora and Srinagar. Between April 1st and 3rd this alert was sounded and authorities were advised to take necessary precautions and report any fire incidents immediately by dialling 112. This alert proved to be more or less correct as there were dozens of fire incidents in Bandipora, Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag and Budgam from April 1st to April 4th.
I believe this alert was sounded because the JKDMA apprehended that youth would start moving around forest areas for picnic around Eid festival March 31st to April 2nd and this was how the pre fire alert was sounded in Bandipora and Srinagar. There has been massive fire in Zabarwan forests in the upper reaches of Nishat and Brein localities in the outskirts of Srinagar. I am 100 % sure that this was caused by the local picnic goers who lit fire inside the forest and failed to put it off while returning back?J&K Forest Minister Javed Ahmad Rana during the recently concluded assembly session informed the J&K Legislative Assembly that as many as 1,243 forest fires were reported in Jammu and Kashmir in the 2024-25 financial year, more than double than the previous fiscal year but almost identical compared to 2022-23.
During the last few weeks there has been a sudden surge in forest fires which is unusual especially in the month of March or April ?Usually these incidents take place in dry weather especially in autumn or early winter when there is no snowfall or rains in the forest areas. People involved in making charcoal during autumn months were earlier blamed for causing forest fires but this trend has changed now. Now the picnic goers and local youth are also said to be involved in forest fires.
Some burn it deliberately by getting sadistic pleasure out of it and many do camp fires, cooking and roasting of meat in the forest and while going back these people don’t put off the fire which causes fire incidents. Some want to burn the plastic waste with good intention in forest areas but that also leads to forest fires sometimes ?Most of the incidents of forest fires are ground fires where only grass and bushes get burnt and tall trees are not affected and this was answered in writing by the Forest Minister to BJP MLA from Udhampur Balwant Singh Mankotia in the Legislative Assembly recently. The minister said a total of 1553 incidents of forest fire were reported, covering an area of 2774.
213 hectares, in the 2022-23 financial year but the number dropped to 607 over an area of 987.24 hectares in 2023-24.As the incidents have been on rise in the last few months it seems these incidents would surpass this financial year if necessary precautions are not taken.
It is important to note that in the current financial year till March 19, the number of forest fires was 1243 that impacted an area of 3503.70 hectares.Destruction in South KashmirIn South Kashmir almost 20 forest fires have occurred in the past 10 days.
Huge forest fires erupted in Tral due to dryness and the main reason is dryness in the forests. This fire spread to Pinglish and other adjoining areas. In Dadoo Marhama, Dachnipora (Pahalgam), and Khuwripora (Aishmuqam) which comes under Lidder Forest division Anantnag several fire incidents were reported.
The forest areas of Sallar, Kullar, Budroo, Sallar, Dahwatoo, Mawoora, Grendwan, Reshkobal, Hapatnar and Pendobal were impacted in forest fires between April 1st to April 3rd. In Shangus area as well there were reports of forest firesForest Fires in Pir Panjal Division Several incidents of fire have taken place in many areas of Pir Panjal forest division Budgam. From Gogaldara Tanmarg-Khag belt to Surasyar & Nilnag Yusmarg areas there have been forest fires in the last 3 days.
After going to the spot I have analysed that local picnic goers have been causing these fires which needs to be taken seriously. Divisional Forest Officer -DFO PP Division Budgam Waseem Gul has initiated a campaign to ensure plastic free forests which not only clears forests from plastic waste but also helps curbing forest fires. There are many areas where people burn this trash and that also causes forest fires.
For the last few weeks the Range Officers of Raithan and Doodh Ganga Yusmarg have been on the move. This campaign must be a sustainable one and the forest department must involve students and locals also in this programme throughout the year. The plastic waste must be banned in all tourist places with forest areas & forest department as well as tourism development authorities must enforce this ban.
ConclusionDrones are the best equipment for early detection of forest fires. They can be used for firefighting as well offering advantages like rapid assessment, situational awareness, and the ability to access remote areas. The J&K Government must enhance the budgetary allocation to the Forest Department so that every forest range has at least two to three dedicated drones to detect forest fires.
In addition to it one high end fire extinguishing drone can be procured for each forest division as well. I would in-fact suggest procurement of fire fighting helicopters for this purpose as our forest wealth is getting destroyed causing huge loss to our environment , biodiversity and state exchequer. Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat is an Acumen Fellow.
He is Founder / Chairman Jammu & Kashmir RTI Movement The post Equip Forest Department with Drones to check Forest Fires appeared first on Greater Kashmir..
