Dzükou fire: Nagaland CM conducts aerial survey
06 January 2021
Published by https://morungexpress.com/
INDIA – Kohima, (MExN): Nagaland Chief Minister (CM) Neiphiu Rio undertook an aerial survey of Dzükou Valley on January 5 to get an assessment of the damages caused by the forest fires as well as the operations being carried out to contain and douse the fire.
A statement issued by the press and media cell of the Chief Minister’s Office informed that the CM surveyed the patches in the valley which had got burned due to the forest fires and portions where the forest fires were still raging.
The CM also took an account of the ground operations being conducted by the SDRF, personnel of the Forest department, Nagaland Police, NDRF along with Southern Angami Youth Organisation (SAYO) volunteers.
The State and central agencies along with the volunteers are engaged in making traditional fire line cutting to contain the fire and have reportedly managed to cut a length of more than 9 kilometers.
The efforts of the ground staff are being supplemented by the four IAF helicopters which are making multiple sorties every day for dousing the fire, the statement added, but there were still some locations which needed to be focused upon urgently to keep the valley safe and protected.
It was also observed that there were no damages yet in the main part of the Dzükou Valley, it added.
The CM appreciated the efforts made by everyone which prevented the further spread of fire and helped keep the situation under control.
The CM also took to Twitter later during the day posting updates on his visit. “Made an aeriel survey of the latest forest fire situation at Dzukou valley today. Seeing the tremendous joint efforts by all concerned to tackle the situation, I am hopeful that the fire will soon be doused,” Rio tweeted.
However, noting that at some locations the forest fires are still raging and the CM appealed for continued coordinated effort by all the agencies involved so that the situation is brought under full control.
“The destruction of God-given beauty and resources of the Dzukou valley is sad. I hope we will all strive to support the efforts of preserving and promoting the rich biodiversity of the valley and learn to live in harmony with nature,” he wrote in a separate tweet.
The CM was accompanied by Mmhonlumo Kikon, Advisor (IT&C, NRE and Science and Technology), Medo Yhokha, Advisor (Higher & Technical and Election) along with Home Commissioner Nagaland Abhijit Sinha and District Forest Officer (DFO) Kohima Rajkumar M.
