SRINAGAR: To strengthen forest fire prevention efforts in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo has called for the registration of more volunteers from communities residing near forest areas, including members of self-help groups and Anganwadi workers. He said their local presence and vigilance could serve as a first line of defence in protecting the region’s “green gold” amid rising summer temperatures.
Chairing a high-level meeting with divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners, forest officials and disaster management representatives, Dulloo stressed the need for proactive planning, community engagement, and real-time response mechanisms to minimise the threat of wildfires across the Union Territory. Noting that nearly 1,000 sq km of the UT’s 5,000 sq km of dense forest are considered vulnerable to fire, he urged district administrations to regularly review and update fire management plans.
He proposed incorporating relief provisions for volunteers injured or killed while performing forest protection duties. The Chief Secretary also underscored the importance of robust information and alert systems, including the establishment of a unified social media platform and the widespread dissemination of Joint Control Room contact numbers.
Commissioner Secretary for Forests, Sheetal Nanda, shared that the department had undertaken Forest Fire Vulnerability Mapping based on data from the Forest Survey of India. This mapping now guides district-level fire management strategies. Meanwhile, PCCF Suresh Kumar Gupta detailed that 270.11 sq km of J&K’s forest cover is classified as “Very Highly Fire Prone,” while nearly 900 sq km is “Highly Fire Prone”.
Officials identified key causes of forest fires, including human activities such as burning crop residue, careless disposal of smoking materials, and roadside fires. Environmental factors like dry spells, rising temperatures, and leaf litter accumulation were also cited.
To mitigate risk, the Forest Department has implemented a multi-pronged strategy, including fire line creation, controlled burning, early warning systems through FSI’s ‘Van Agni’ satellite alerts, and the activation of 85 Joint Forest Fire Control Rooms across the UT. Equipment such as beaters, rake hoes, and sprayers has been distributed to enhance field efficiency.
Community-based protection through Village Forest Committees, mock drills, awareness drives, and school outreach are also being prioritised to instil public responsibility in preserving forested ecosystems.
