Forest fires are wrecking havoc with Jammu & Kashmir’s prized forests. And, it appears, the Forest Ministry, with the primary mandate for the protection and conservation of the state’s forests is doing pretty little to address this alarming situation.
Jammu and Kashmir has 20,230 sq. km. forest area, covering 19.95 per cent of the total geographical area the state. Forest fires are eating up hundreds of acres of precious forest cover every year. And we seem to be just reacting in controlling some of these fires. There is a serious dearth of strategic thinking at the governmental level.
To understand how alarming the situation is, consider this: In 2016, there were a total of 781 reported fire incidents across Jammu & Kashmir state, 289 of which took place in Kashmir region and 492 in the Jammu region. Repeated attempts by Ziraat Times research team to access information from the Forest Department with consolidated data to ascertain the total number of trees lost and the geographical area denuded were not materialise.
While Ziraat Times reached out to Minister for Forests, Chaudhary Lal Singh to know his plans in dealing with this situation, he said he was busy in a meeting and did not attend the subsequent calls.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir, chose not to respond to any queries by Ziraat Times.
Dachigam fire incident
The latest fire that has played havoc in the vicity of Srinagar city is the fire in the Zabarwan hills that raged in the area this weekend. The fire could only be contained after considerable tree loss. Most of the containment efforts were led by volunteers, who either joined the forest teams or initiated risky and rudimentary measures themselves to contain the fire.
It is the sixth time in last six years that Dachigam forest area has been engulfed in such a huge fire.
In 2016, similar kind of fire incidents were witnessed inside Dachigam forest area during the month of February.
In 2002, a similar kind of forest fire engulfed Dachigam National Park which turned a huge green area into ashes.
In order to understand the Fire and Emergency Department’s handling of these situations, Ziraat Times spoke to its Joint Director, Muhammad Akbar Dar, who said that the latest Zabarwan fire broke out at several places on same day which made it difficult to handle.
“Our fire tenders are designed to tackle fires where our trucks can be moved to. We weren’t capable to deal with this fire because of the terrain. However, our men coordinated with the Forest Protection Force. The forest staff is trained to deal with such fires”, Mr Akbar said.
He further informed that his department had forwarded a proposal for procurement of latest equipments to deal with high terrain fires.
Director Forest Protection Force (Kashmir), Asif Mehmood, believes that his force had very inadequate budget for meeting the challenges of such contingencies.
“While the staff is trained to tackle such fires, to prevent such fires from causing huge destruction, fire lines should be created in forests on priority. Moreover, our strategy should be to deal with such contingencies by creating a robust information sharing mechanism”, Mr Mehmood added.
Jigmet Takpa, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation and Sustainable Development) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India, who was formerly Chief Conservator of Forests, Ladakh, while speaking to Ziraat Times, said that awareness generation among common people in preventing forest fires had to be a high priority.
“Too much of debris, dry leaves and shrubs make forests prone to fire. So timely cleaning & maintenance of forests is necessary to prevent fires. We also require new techniques and equipments to deal with the fires. And, very importantly, focus on latest training for the staff dealing with forest fires”, Mr Jigmet added.
Deputy Director, Forest Protection Force, (Batote range) Vivek Modi, while speaking to Ziraat Times shared the concern on the forest fires in Jammu region.
“The problem is that the budget available is inadequate. Our primary role is to assist the Forest Department, that has more manpower than our department. We need to work more on four issues – extra vigilance, better planning and deployment of manpower and equipment in the event of forest fire, upgradation of fire-fighting equipment and awareness among people, especially people living adjacent to forest areas”, Mr Vivek said.
Wildlife Warden, Kashmir, Imtiyaz Lone, put the blame on people venturing into forests.
“Forest fires don’t start naturally. The movement of people in open forests is very common and these people start fire to keep out the cold or to burn cigarettes; that is the reason of fire”, Mr Lone said.
The 10 Questions
Considering this situation, Ziraat Times Research Team has compiled ten critical questions that need deep contemplation and action by the Department of Forests, Govt of Jammu & Kashmir.
Question No 1:The fundamental mandate of the Forest Department is the protection of the state’s forests. Does the department have a specific strategy and action plan, with matching budgetary allocations, to address the grave issue of forest fires?
Ziraat Times view: Jammu and Kashmir State Forest Policy 2010, does not have any specific mention of the state’s policy and strategy in dealing with forest fires. The policy must reflect clear state position in dealing with forest fires.
Question No. 2: The Forest Fire Management Plan says that it aims at developing strategies to combat the emergencies and also to reduce vulnerability to hazards in respect of forest sector. There is a budgetary allocation of Rs 52.98 crore for implementation during three years (2017-18, 2018-19,2019-20) under World Bank Jehlum Tawi Flood Management project.
Ziraat Times view: Detailed study of the document indicates that it is largely commentary-based, with observations on the state of Jammu & Kashmir’s forests and some basic techniques used to address forest fires. It does not reflect the department’s strategic approach in dealing with the problem, nor does it mention wherefrom it would mobilise resources for the plan. While it talks about dealing with all aspects of exigencies in particular preparedness, response and recovery to reduce the impact of this disaster, it doesn’t carry any specific Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), roles and responsibility matrices in the event of a fire. The Forest Department needs to undertake a technical review of the document.
Question No 3: Currently, Forest Department’s Control Rooms function as Forest Fire Control Sub-Stations and have been given the responsibility of addressing forest fires.
The staff for these control rooms were expected to be deputed not only from the Forest Department but from all other allied wings. This was supposed to be coordinated and managed by the local territorial DFO.
Ziraat Times view: While these rooms have already been established in all Divisions at Divisional Headquarters; the question is: are these rooms well equipped? Are their personnel well trained in managing forest fire situations? Do they have access to latest gadgets and equipments, including GPS, protective gears and advanced first aid kits? Forest Department has to explain.
Question No. 4: The Forest Fire Management Plan stipulates real time monitoring of situation and mobilizing all available resources at District level. It also stipulates formation of District Level Committees, comprising of District Dev. Commissioner (Chairman), DFO Territorial (Member Secretary), Superintendent of Police (Member), Deputy Director Forest Protection Force (Member), Wildlife Warden (Member), DFO Social Forestry (Member), District Soil Conservation Officer (Member).
Ziraat Times view: These Committees were expected to monitor and coordinate the forest fire, prevention and control in the District and shall meet once in a month to take steps required for effective management of prevention of forest fire incidents. The committee was expected to work in coordination with the District Disaster Management Committees. The question is: is this system operational? If not, why?
Question No. 5: In section 24 of the Jammu and Kashmir Forest (Protection) Force Rules, 2012, out of the 11 “other functions” identified for the members of the Forest Protection Force Force, it is mentioned that one of their functions is “to use his best endeavours to prevent any loss or damage by fire to forest property”.
Ziraat Times view: Protection personnel on the front lines often say that they are not fully clear about their role in the management and control of forest fires. Will the Forest Ministry seek to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Forest (Protection) Force Rules, 2012 appropriately to emphasise on the role of the force in preventing and controlling forest fires? Will it also emphasise on the training and adequate equipment for the force personnel?
Question No. 6: The Jammu & Kashmir Forest Act, 1987 (1930 AD.) Act No. II of 1987 clearly mentions the acts prohibited in J&K’s forests. It clearly says that any person who (a) Sets fire to a demarcated forest, or kindles any fires, or leaves any fire burning in such manner as to endanger such a forest; (b) Kindles, keeps or carries any fire except at such seasons as the Conservator of the Circle may from time to time notify in this behalf; shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years but shall not be less than three months and with fine which may extend to six thousand rupees but shall not be less than one thousand rupees. If the conviction relates to clause (f), the Judicial Magistrate shall order for the restoration of the land to the Forest Department.
Ziraat Times view: Can the Forest Ministry make the public aware what actions have been taken related to the forest fires lately? Have there been any departmental inquiries? Are reports available? Have any actions been initiated against those responsible for these fires?
Question No. 7: The Jammu & Kashmir Forest Act, 1987 (1930 AD.) Act No. II of 1987 in clause 50 stipulates summary action by Deputy Commissioner in fire cases.
Ziraat Times view: Are those actions being undertaken? Follow up actions taken need to be made public
Question No. 8: Currently, only the Fire and Emergency Department of the government has the necessary equipment to deal with fire situations, including those in forest areas. But is it equipped to deal with forest fire situations in terrains where its equipment cannot reach?
Ziraat Times spoke to Joint Director, Fire and Emergency Department, Kashmir, Muhammad Akbar Dar, who said that they have forwarded a proposal for procurement of equipments to deal with high terrain fires.
“Proposals have been forwarded to prevent such fires and for acquiring equipments to deal with high terrain fires,” Dar said.
Ziraat Times view: If so, when will the equipment be available?
Question No. 9: While it is clear that most of the forest fires are triggered by human interferences in forest areas, the question is: Is the Forest Department doing enough on awareness and prevention?
Question No. 10: While the larger plan for the capacity building, training and equipping of the Control Rooms is done, why shouldn’t the Forest Department consider creation of Provincial rapid Response teams, which will be easier to train, mobilize, equip.
The bigger the delay in the creation of these teams, the greater the loss to the state’s forest wealth will be.
We earnestly hope that the Forest Department will act and treat this issue with all the seriousness that it so demands.
Causes and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir regions
Latest cases of forest fires in Kashmir region:
Official data indicates that there were around 160 reported forest fire incidents in Kashmir province in last two years (2016 and 2017).
Further in 2007, a major fire broke out at six different areas inside the National Park. While no loss was reported to the wild animals but a major portion of the vegetation was wiped out due to it.
Later the then Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, accompanied by senior officers had to take an emergency aerial survey of the national park to assess the damage caused by the fire.
It was followed by a fire of similar kind in the year 2010 when the wild life departments had to take assistance from the Fire Service and Emergency Department to douse the fire.
As per the reports, the fire was doused after a long time as the fire tenders could not reach to the spot.
In 2012 and 2015, few portions of the Dachigam National Park again were affected by the forest fire which led to a huge damage to the habitation of wild animals.
The government in ongoing legislative assembly has its admitted that forest fire incidents have increased.
Latest cases of forest fires in Jammu region:
The situation is even more alarming in the Jammu region. In 2017, there were 242 incidents of forest fires reported from different parts of the region, affecting 502 hectare area.
Apart from this, about 180 hectare of forests in the Trikuta Hills of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine falling in Reasi District have been badly affected by fire-incidents.
On January 21, 2018, a massive fire engulfed a large portion of Bhallesa forest comprising of pine trees in Gandoh Sub Division of Jammu. The fire could be doused only with support from the local villagers after the Forest Department was unable to mobilise the necessary men and equipment in time to contain the fire.
“On 10 January 2018 and earlier on 28 May 2017, Vaishno Devi pilgrimage had to be stopped due to forest fire in the Vaishno Devi Hills. Only a night earlier, a major fire had broke out last night in Trikuta Hills of Katra town in Reasi district. We were unable to do much about the incidents because there is no plan, no resources, no leadership on how to prevent and mitigate the effects of these incidents”, a senior official of the Forest Department, Jammu told Ziraat Times on the condition of anonymity.
In June 2016, massive fires in Kalidhar forest bordering Jammu-Rajouri districts near Chowki Choura area, Trikuta Hills in Katra, Baba Ghulam Shah Badhsah University forest area in Rajouri, Garnai Lota area in Udhampur district or Chirala forests in Doda,damaged vast tracts of forest land.
Causes:
While the causes are largely well-known, experts emphasise that the ministry must focus on solutions and mitigation strategies.
“Well, prevention is definitely important but the government will have to modernise its approach towards containment and mitigation of ill-effects of forest fires”, Mian Javed Hussain,
While climate change-induced dry spells are cited as one major factor in aggravating forest fires, the principal cause is the human-ignited ones.
“It is very difficult to contain fires triggered by human interference in and around forests. Population boom and easy access of people to forests are factors which are hard to address”, said a retired forest official.
(A group of Ziraat Times’ citizen journalists and members of Ziraat Times Advisory Committee have contributed to this report)