CS sets Jan deadline for wildfire plans, seeks prediction model for preparedness

Dehradun: Dehradun: Chief secretary Anand Bardhan on Wednesday said all meetings with committees and stakeholders linked to forest fires must be completed by Jan and all arrangements put in place before the next fire season, as he reviewed preparedness measures with state officials and pushed departments to move from reactive response to advance planning.At the meeting, Bardhan directed forest department, meteorological department and Forest Survey Institute to develop a forest fire prediction model on the lines of disaster management, saying that advance estimation of the likelihood of fires would help authorities prevent incidents more effectively and reduce loss of life and property. He also asked that a dedicated pressure pipeline system be ensured for fire hydrants installed at various locations across the state, and directed peyjal department, which handles drinking water supply, to prepare a proposal on the issue at the earliest.Bardhan also told forest department to carry out a drive to inspect all arrangements linked to forest fire prevention, with a focus on ensuring maintenance of vehicles and equipment and tightening security at all leesa depots, where resin extracted from pine trees is stored, across the state in line with the prescribed protocol. Stressing the need for longer-term preventive steps, he said special efforts should be made to promote disposal of pirul, the dry pine needles that often fuel forest fires, from forests and the production of pirul briquettes, or compressed fuel blocks made from the needles.Bardhan said the state should set up as many such units as possible so that pirul briquettes could emerge as an alternative fuel source, adding that the push would serve multiple purposes: reducing the risk of forest fires, increasing the availability of alternative fuel and improving the economic condition of self-help groups.