Anantnag, Apr 04: Twenty forest fire incidents were reported in South Kashmir during the past week, and almost all of them have been brought under control, according to the Conservator of Forests, South Circle.
Arashdeep Singh, Conservator of Forests (CoF), South Circle confirmed that all the fire incidents reported over the past week have been brought under control. However, two new incidents were reported on Friday in the Anantnag Forest Division—one in Achabal and another in Mattan.
“Most of the incidents have occurred in Anantnag, which is a large district with dense forests. There have also been a few incidents in the Tral area of Pulwama,” he said.
He attributed the rise in incidents to recent heat and dryness. “Dry leaves and grass are causing these fires. A recent festival also contributed due to negligence. People visiting the forests sometimes leave behind fire sources, which leads to such incidents.”
When asked about the lack of equipment used by field staff, Singh said, “Forest fires are not like house fires that can be doused with small extinguishers. These fires spread over large areas, especially in dry forests with rising temperatures and wind.”
He added, “We use traditional methods to control fires. Internationally too, places like California and Canada with similar climates have faced severe wildfires. Our staff works hard, manually creating fire lines and fire breaks to contain the spread.”
Singh also said they use technology as well. “We receive satellite-based alerts every six hours from the Forest Survey of India. The DFO and rangers review these alerts to monitor and respond accordingly. This acts as a high-level check on ground efforts.”
Regarding the damage, he said, “Most fires are ground-level, burning dry leaves and litter. Larger temperate trees are generally safe, but saplings suffer. The department surveys affected areas and includes them in next year’s plantation plans to replenish the forest.”
Meanwhile, Imaad Mir, a social activist said that recent forest fires have threatened Pahalgam’s very essence, and with upcoming infrastructure projects like railways and road expansions, the Himalayas face further risks.
“Our Pahalgam-based civil society group has brought this issue to the Chief Minister’s attention, proposing the creation of Youth Environment Clubs at the Panchayat level. These clubs would involve youth volunteers in disaster management and afforestation efforts. This initiative is feasible and requires a policy decision,” Mir said.
He added that the locals are eager to help, as seen in their strong response to the recent bushfires. However, the department must also be better equipped to effectively manage such challenges.
