Forest fires in tribal Kinnaur: Department, NGO lock horns

Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News service

Shimla, December 21

The Forest Department and Nature Watch India, an NGO, have locked horns on the “damage and control” of fires in tribal Kinnaur district. Convener of the NGO Rajeshwar Singh Negi has contested the claim of the department that the fire was doused by a team of forest officials and ITBP jawans and no major damage was caused to Chilgoza crop.

While Negi accused the Forest Department of making misleading and false statements regarding the action taken to extinguish the fire and underestimating the loss, the DFO insisted that the fire affected only two hectare area and the total loss was estimated at Rs88,913 and two FIRs were registered against unknown persons.

It was not a forest fire but a ground fire which did not engulf the trees and only fallen leaves and pine needles were burnt. No damage has been caused to Chilgoza trees, the forest officials asserted.

However, Negi reiterated that forests in huge areas were destroyed and the forest staff did not take prompt action to extinguish the fire, causing heavy damage to Chilgoza trees and major cash crop.

The DFO had maintained that the first fire broke out on November 5 and was extinguished on the same day while the other fire took place on December 3 and a team of forest and ITBP personnel laid a 4-km pipeline to douse the fire and it was wrong to say it was doused due to rain and snow.

While Negi demanded an enquiry into the alleged negligence of the forest staff in taking action, forest officials struck to their stand that the department took speedy action and the allegations of negligence were “wrong and misleading”.

“The Nature Watch India was in touch with the local people of Akpa until the day the forest fire raging atop the Jangi mountains, 10 km from Akpa, died out due to rain and snow”, Negi said, demanding forestation of the damaged trees.

However, officials said the Forest Department had shot letters to village pradhans seeking help to douse fire but due to the wedding season, the department did not get desired help from them.