Question : Incidents of Forest Fire

(a) the number of incidents of forest fires occurred during the last three years along with the total land destroyed in hectares and the monetary loss incurred due to forest fires, State-wise;
(b) whether the incidents of repeated fires have increased, especially in the forest in mountainous areas and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any investigation has been undertaken to inquire into any notoriety in forest fires to encroach forest land and if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether there is any proposal to set up an independent agency to assess the actual loss and to set a budget for compensation; and
(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a)&(b) The number of incidents of forest fire in the country varies from year to year depending on various natural and anthropogenic reasons. As reported by State and Union Territories, details of forest fires in the last three years are given in Annexure.

(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 so as to minimize forest fires by informing, enabling and empowering forest fringe communities and incentivizing them to work in tandem with the Forest Departments, reducing the vulnerability of forests across the diverse forest ecosystems in the country against fire hazards, enhancing the capabilities of forest personnel and institutions in fighting fires, and speeding up recovery after a fire event.

(d) &(e) Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE), Dehradun has been entrusted to carry out a “Study on Estimation of Economic losses in Real Term per Hectare Basis due to Forest Fire in Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh” in collaboration with Forest Survey of India, Wildlife Institute of India, National Institute of Hydrology and GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development for estimation of economic losses in real term per hectare basis due to forest fire in Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh.

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