Question : Forest Fire

(a) whether as per State of Forest Report 2017 there has been thirty eight per cent increase in the incidents of forest fire in the country during the last thirteen years;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the estimated loss of animal and human lives along with the destruction caused to flora and fauna during the said period;
(c) whether the National Green Tribunal has asked his Ministry to frame a national policy for prevention and control of forest fire and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Government has conducted any State/UT-wise study to assess the losses suffered due to forest fire during the last five years and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the measures taken by the Government to prevent forest fire especially during summer season?

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

(a) Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, a subordinate organization of this Ministry is publishing India State of Forest Report once in two years. FSI does not report the number of forest fire incidences on the ground. It only disseminates the satellite based forest fire alerts to all the State Forest Departments and other registered users.
The data generated from the fire alerts titled ‘Global Monthly Fire Location Product’ (MCD14ML) pertaining to the fire season (January to June) from 2003 to 2016 was used to carry out a long term characterization study on forest fires and the same was published in India State of Forest Report 2017 (ISFR 2017).
The number of fire detections fluctuate across the years and are dependent on weather conditions besides other variables. Therefore, direct comparison on the number of fire detections may not reflect ground reality. The year wise number of detections observed as per the MCD14ML database is given in Annexure.

(b)The loss of animal and human lives if any, along with the destruction caused to flora and fauna during the said period are not maintained in the Ministry.

(c)The Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT), Principal Bench, New Delhi vide its order dated 03.08.2017 in the Original Application No. 216 of 2016 (M.A. No. 397 of 2017) in the matter of Rajiv Dutta versus Union of India and others has inter-alia directed that the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) should in consultation with the States formulate National Policy/Guidelines for forest fire prevention and control, which should be updated periodically.

(d) The Government has not conducted any State/UT-wise study to assess the losses suffered due to forest fire during the last five years.

(e) Protection and management of forests from various threats including forest fire is primarily the responsibility of respective State/Union Territory Governments. The Ministry issues advisories to State/UT Governments for taking effective steps for prevention and management of forest fires. Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, a subordinate organization of this Ministry disseminates satellite based forest fire alerts on location of forest fires to all States/UT Forest Departments & other registered users through SMS and email for taking effective steps for controlling the fire at the initial stage itself so as to minimize the damages and losses. Further, the Ministry supplements the efforts of State/Union Territory Governments in prevention and control of forest fire by providing financial assistance under the Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FPM) Scheme.