MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a) As per the report received from the Forest Survey of India (FSI), the fire prone area in the country is 53.91 percent of the total recorded forest area. This information is based on the National Forest Inventory Data (field data) collected during 2004-2012 from the 179 districts representing different forest areas of the country. No separate data for North Eastern States is available with the Ministry.
(b) The information pertaining to estimated forest areas affected by forest fire in North-Eastern States during the last three years is not maintained in the Ministry. However, details of state-wise active forest fire locations as reported by FSI in North Eastern States during the last three years are enclosed as Annexure-I.
(c) Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change provides Grants-in-aid to State/Union Territory (UT) Governments under Centrally Sponsored Scheme namely Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) which inter alia has an important component of Forest Fire Control and Management. The aim of the scheme is to supplement the efforts of the States for forest management and protection. Funds under the scheme are inter alia utilized for creation and maintenance of fire lines, purchase of modern fire fighting equipments, patrolling of the forests, establishment of camps, building fire watch towers, forest fire control and strengthening of the forest infrastructure etc. The details of funds released to the North Eastern States in the last three years under the Centrally Sponsored: Intensification of Forest Management Scheme are given at Annexure- II.
(d) No compensation is provided to the affected families who have lost their lives and property due to forest fire under the Centrally Sponsored: Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS).
