Question : Increasing Cases of Forest Fires

(a) whether it is a fact that the incidents of forest fires including the recent incident of major forest fire outbreak inside the Sariska National Park in Rajasthan which resulted in huge loss of forest area are increasing in the country and if so, the details thereof of the incidents of forest fires in the country during the lastthree years, year-wise;
(b) whether the Government has done any study to analyze the reasons for the increase in incidents of forest fire outbreaks in the country and its potential impact on the flora and fauna of the affected areas and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the action plan taken by the Government along with the States to overcome the challenges of forest fire due to heat wave, natural and unnatural causes, if any,in the future and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) Forest fire do occur every year during summer due to various natural and anthropogenic reasons including accumulations of inflammable materials such as dry leaves, twigs, pine needles etc. Most of the forest fires in the country are ground fires in which ground vegetation, etc. get burnt. The number of incidences of forest fire in the country varies from year to year depending on various natural and anthropogenic reasons. The Number of forest fire alerts disseminated by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) using SNPP-VIIRS sensors (This includes large, continuous and repeated forest fires) during last three years to various States/UT’s are given in Annexure-I.

(b) & (c) Ministry in collaboration with the World Bank has conducted a study on Situation Analysis of Forest Fire and released a study report titled “Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India” which contains various recommendations regarding forest fire prevention, detection, suppression, post-fire management, engaging with communities, coordination with other agencies etc. Inputs from the study were used by the Ministry in preparation of National Action Plan on Forest Fire which has been circulated to all State/UTs in April,2018 to take appropriate action.

The responsibility of forest fire prevention and management lies primarily with the respective State/UT. The Ministry supports the efforts of the States/ UTs in prevention and control of forest fire by providing financial assistance for various forest fire prevention and management measures such as modern tools for fire extinguishing, use of communication and information technology, etc creation and maintenance of fire lines in forest areas, engagement of fire watchers, creation of water storage structures in forest areas, strengthening of forest infrastructure, procurement of firefighting equipment, soil and moisture conservation works in high risk areas, awareness creation, incentivizing villages/communities for protection against forest fire etc. under the Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme. A sum of about Rs. 113 crore (Rupees One Hundred Thirteen crore) has been released to the State Governments/UTs during last three years (2018-19 to 2021-22) under this scheme.

In addition, the FSI has taken following steps to improve the forest fire alert system:-

(i) FSI has pursued with States/UTs to increase the number of registered users of its alert system. Now, the number of such registered users has increased to around 1.55 lakh.
(ii) FSI also generates and disseminates “Weekly Early-Warning Alerts” of forest fire to concerned States/UTs.
(iii) FSI has also initiated an innovative “Large Forest Fire Monitoring” programme in January 2019 which aims at improving tactical as well as strategic response to large forest fires by the respective States/UTs.

In addition to above initiatives by FSI, the Government has constituted a national level committee that oversees the issues arising out of forest fire. The committee has advised all states to take several measures including constituting State-level Monitoring Committee on Forest Fire, preparing State Action Plan on Forest Fire, and Fire Risk Zonation mapping.

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