Question : Forest Fires

(a) the policy of the Government for checking forest fires in the country;
(b) the details of incidents of forest fires reported during the last three years, State-wise along with the measures taken by the Government for preventing such incidents;
(c) whether it is a fact that just 20 districts mainly cloate in the North East accounted for over 40 per cent of all forest fires detected between 2003 and 2016 in India, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether it is also true that similarly, the top 20 districts mainly in Central India accounted for about 48 percent of the total fire affected area in the country during the above period, if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether it is also true that forest fires occur in around half of all the districts in nearly all the States every year, if so, the details thereof;
(f) whether it is a fact that the forest fires cause an annual loss of Rs. 1101 crore in India, if so, the details thereof; and
(g) whether it is also true that an aggressive strategy and involvement of local can help in controlling forest fires, if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

(a) & (b) Forest Fire occurs every year during summer due to various natural and anthropogenic reasons including accumulation of inflammable materials such as dry leaves, twigs, pine needles etc. Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, disseminates the satellite based forest fire alerts to the State Forest Departments and other registered users whenever forest fires are detected. The details of forest fire alerts issued to all State/ Union Territory Forest Departments during the last three years is given in Annexure-I.

The Ministry has formulated National Action Plan on Forest Fire and circulated to all State/UT Governments for taking appropriate action for effective prevention and management of forest fire. The responsibility of forest fire prevention and management lies primarily with the respective State/UT Governments. The State Governments have their own forest fire management plans. The Ministry supports the efforts of State/Union Territory Governments in prevention and control of forest fire by providing financial assistance for various forest fire prevention and management measures under the Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FPM) Scheme.

(c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, assisted by World Bank, conducted a study which states that 20 districts mainly located in the North East accounted for about 40.29 per cent of all forest fires detected between 2003 and 2016. The details are given in Annexure-II.

(d) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, assisted by World Bank, conducted a study which states that 20 districts, mainly in Central India, accounted for about 48.18 percent of the total fire affected area in the country between 2003 and 2016. The details are given in Annexure-III.

(e) No, Madam.
(f) The data regarding economic loss due to forest fire is not maintained in this Ministry.

(g) Yes, Madam. The involvement of local can help in controlling forest fires. The concerned State Forest Departments take the help of local communities in forest fire management.

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