Helicopter services only in exigencies during Fire Fighting: Dept

Fire Department decided to requisition the services of Helicopter in Fire cambating operation in emergency only as fire fighting with a helicopter cost dearly to Department recently.Replying to a query why help of helicopter services not being taken in the emergency Ajay Srivastava, Chief Conservator of Forest Department said that paying the helicopter fare at the rate of about Rs 8 lakh per hour would have proved to be an expensive deal.Recently, after a fire broke out in the Taradevi forest in the outer skirts of Shimla town, considering it an emergency situation, the Disaster Management and Forest Department had decided to deployed the helicopter. Although it was was taken on a trial basis for one day, but blages could not be brought under control despite department footed Eight lakh rupees. Now the bill to be bear by the forest department which is one of wealthy govt body. Fire Department said that If one hour bill may mounts eight lakhs it is not so effective in the future requisition for such services should be for emergency purpose . In the advance nation use of Helicopter fire fighter is common but keeping the hill tomography helicopter took more time to reckon, more over it have to pick up the water before pour it on the fire sites. It is not so effective in the forest fire which could spread in different directions. Chief Fire Officer said that in the future help helicopter only requisition only if needed in a very critical condition. The department would continue to rely on the fire personnel to extinguish the blages. He said that to counter massive fire it could deploy additional staff. According to the top officials of the department, the state forests are not homegenius as omewhere there is a deep gorge, and somewhere there is a mild plain area. In such a situation, efforts to extinguish the fire with a helicopter are not proving effective. Moreover if strength would be unmatching to volume of mannual staff Forest Department would deploy additional staff during the entire fire season. Department officials and staff are roping in volunteers in lakhs and taking the help of local people by training them and honing their skills. Department, State government and Forest Official were facing public wrath currently as pine leave forest in the state are on perils currently as 30 to 40 forest in the blages which is causing massive damage to local people.Forest fire near Tikkar Jarol in Kotgargh damaged HPMC cold storage facilities. Number of villages around ITBP headquarter at Taradevi effected in massive fire could brought unde control after three days, Tutikandi Forest fire in pine needles also created hovac forcing 70 inmates of a Orphanage to rescue to safer places on Sunday. Now Himachal Pradesh High court has taken cognizance on the incedience. Pine needles and Ashes of such forest raw material are having heavy demand in cement plant and factory as it was being bought Rs 500 per ton for converting in construction bricks. Rajesh Thakur Local Residents of Badhari village (which witnessed similar fire) said that he have demand of Ashesh and pine needles but local people need encouragement for the same. Forest fire could be averted if pine needles get clear from the pibe forest before fire season . Himachal Pradesh in mid hills have high plantation and pine forest which is vulnerable to forest fire more over unscientific extraction of Resin from the tree make such forest more fire prone also causing massive loss to fresh broad leave sepling and regeneration of others tree to geat extent beside ruining the pasture for cattle and habitat to the wildlife in such mishap.