SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir received Rs 11.08 lakh in central assistance for forest fire prevention and management during 2025-26, marking the only allocation released to the Union Territory under the Centre’s Forest Fire Prevention and Management scheme in the last five financial years, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change said the assistance was provided under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme on Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FFPM). No funds were released to JK under the scheme during 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 or 2024-25.
The figures were disclosed in response to an unstarred question on the implementation of the National Action Plan on Forest Fire (NAPFF), 2018.
The Centre said the NAPFF provides comprehensive measures for the prevention and management of forest fires and improving the resilience of forests against fire hazards. States and Union Territories have been advised to prepare their own action plans in line with the national framework.
Across the country, the Ministry released Rs 164.90 crore under the FFPM scheme over the five financial years from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The annual releases stood at Rs 34.26 crore in 2021-22, Rs 28.25 crore in 2022-23, Rs 39.18 crore in 2023-24, Rs 30.76 crore in 2024-25 and ₹31.68 crore in 2025-26.
The Centre also said that disaster-related mitigation support is provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Mitigation Scheme for Forest Fire Risk Management (MSFFRM), funded through the National Disaster Mitigation Fund. The scheme covers 144 high-priority forest fire-prone districts across 19 States, with an approved outlay of ₹818.92 crore.
According to the state-wise data, JK and Ladakh were not among the States and Union Territories listed for assistance under the MSFFRM.
To strengthen early detection and response, the Ministry said the Forest Survey of India operates Forest Fire Alert System (FAST 3.0), a satellite-based system providing one-week advance pre-fire alerts, near-real-time alerts and large forest fire alerts to registered subscribers and State Forest Department officials.
The FSI also provides the Van Agni Geo-portal, forest fire danger ratings, risk-zonation and fire-prone area mapping, along with Web Map Services.
The Ministry said Standard Operating Procedures for forest fire prevention, mitigation and response had been circulated for different forest types, while the Forest Fire Preparedness Index had been developed and firefighting equipment standardised through the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education.
A 24×7 Disaster Management Control Room is also operated for monitoring forest fire incidents, with coordination involving the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority, National Disaster Response Force and State Forest Departments.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh had sought Rs 1,349.31 lakh under its Annual Plan of Operations for 2026-27. The Centre said it had sanctioned Rs 49.60 lakh to the State under the FFPM scheme in accordance with the applicable guidelines.
