Uttarakhand CM Dhami holds review meeting to combat forest fires

New Delhi [India], May 4 (ANI): Amid incidents of forest fire reported in the state, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami convened a review meeting at Uttarakhand Sadan, New Delhi, on Saturday.

The meeting focused on strategies to tackle forest fires, address the drinking water crisis, and ensure smooth preparations for the Chardham Yatra.

The state has recently witnessed an alarming increase in forest fires, prompting concerns about environmental safety and the impact on local communities.

Senior state officials, including Chief Secretary Radha Raturi and DGP Abhinav Kumar, attended the virtual meeting conducted by the Chief Minister.

Earlier on April 27, the Uttarakhand Chief Minister conducted a high-level review meeting regarding the prevention of forest fires reported from various parts of the state.

The meeting was held in Haldwani, following a massive fire that broke out in the Ladiyakata area of the Nainital Air Force Centre on Friday and continued for over 36 hours, sweeping through dense forests in the mountainous region.

Chief Minister Dhami spoke to the media after the meeting and informed that the leaves of all the officers and employees of the forest department had been cancelled because of the increasing incidents of forest fires in the region.

In the last 24 hours, numerous incidents of forest fire were reported from various parts of Uttarakhand, destroying hectares of forest land, said Dhami on April 27.

The Indian Army was pressed into service as forest fires continued to rage in Uttarakhand, with the Kumaon region being the worst hit.

CM Dhami said that the Indian Army and Air Force helicopters assisted in controlling forest fires in the state that reached Nainital after raging for over 36 hours and burning several hectares of green cover.

The Chief Minister said that the fire poses a substantial challenge and that all necessary resources are being mobilized to address the situation.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) deployed MI-17 helicopters to assist in the firefighting efforts. These helicopters were lifting water from Nainital Lake to douse the flames, resulting in a temporary halt to boating activities on the lake.

Rahul Anand, Executive Officer of the Nainital Municipal Corporation, explained that safety precautions were taken to allow the IAF helicopters to collect water from Nainital Lake.

According to the official, the IAF choppers conducted aerial surveys over the Nainital, Bhimtal, and Sattal lakes, identifying suitable locations from where it could lift water for the dousing operation.

The choppers, with sacks and buckets hanging by a rope from them, were spraying water over the affected forests surrounding Nainital.

As per reports, forest fires have become an annual feature and the change in weather conditions resulted in soaring temperatures.

Uttarakhand starts experiencing forest fires in mid-February when the trees shed dry leaves and the soil loses moisture due to a temperature rise, and this continues till mid-June.