Question : Forest Fire

(a) the details of incidents of forest fires that have been reported in the country during the last three years and the current year;
(b) whether the Government has formulated any policy/guidelines to deal with such calamities considering the sensitive nature of the geographies and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has set up any dedicated task force/team to contain the spread of forest fires and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the Government is considering to assist the State Governments to prevent forest fires and if so, the details thereof ?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)


(a) As per the report received from Forest Survey of India, the details of incidents of forest fires that have been reported in the country during the last three years and the current year are enclosed as Annexure-I.
(b) &(c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has formulated a Contingency Plan for forest fires which deals with the mechanism for coordination during the crisis of a major forest fire. The said plan provides for a Central Crisis Group at Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and having representatives from Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Health in addition to other members.

(d) The Government of India provides funds to States and Union Territory (UT) Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Intensification of Forest Management Scheme’ (IFMS) to supplement their efforts. Various measures taken by State/UT Governments for protection of forests from fires include creation and maintenance of fire lines in forest areas, engaging fire watchers, establishing forest camps, regular patrolling by forest personnel etc. The support of Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) is also taken in this regard.

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