DC Solan has urged citizens to help in preventing and controlling forest fire

Following increasing forest fire incidents in the pine forest state authorities in Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand are seeking assistance from the citizens to cooperate in preventing and controlling fire arosen. Deputy Commissioner Solan Manmohan Sharma said that all necessary arrangements have been made in the district to prevent and control incidents of forest fire during the summer season.

 He has issued instructions to all Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) to coordinate with the Forest Department and ensure prompt action on such incidents.

Manmohan Sharma said that such incidents can be effectively stopped with the cooperation and awareness of the people and general public living near the forests. He said that to control forest fires, all sub-divisional officers have been instructed to deploy Aapda Mitra and take help from local volunteers.

Last month, orders were issued by the district administration under Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Village and Small Town Patrolling Act, 1964 to ensure the safety of public property and forests due to forest fires during the summer season, 2024. 

Under these orders, applicable till July 15, 2024, all able-bodied male residents of all the villages of the district will be responsible for patrolling to prevent fire in the forests. He has appealed to the general public to cooperate and remain alert in this.

A dry spell and scorching heatwave triggered several fire incidents which caused huge losses to Himalayan forests in Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand.