10 cases of forest fires reported this summer in Hamirpur
10 cases of forest fires reported this summer in Hamirpur
05 June 2013
published by www.hindustantimes.com
India — As many as ten cases of forest fires have been reported from the district since the advent of the summer season, Pradeep Thakur, conservator of forests, Hamirpur, said.
He said forest wealth worth Rs. 5 lakh was lost in the fires and rise in temperature was the main reason behind the incidents.
Thakur said that the department had already taken timely steps to deal with fire incidents and fire lines had been created and pine needles removed from the forests.
He said the department was also planting saplings of chir, khair, shisham, jatropha and other broad leaf varieties in the district to increase the green cover in the district.
During year 2012-13, the department had planted 3,04,666 saplings of various varieties and the success rate was about 70% in the district.
Hamirpur district is divided into five forest ranges located at Hamirpur, Aghar, Bijheri, Nadaun and Badsar.
Shortage of lower rung staff in the department was also a matter of concern. Thakur said people should come forward on their own to protect the forests and to grow more trees.
