In a proactive measure to prevent forest fires during the upcoming summer season, the Uttar Pradesh government is implementing a series of strategic initiatives.

The government is already on high alert and is running the ‘Forest Fire Safety Week’ from February 1 to February 7 across the state to raise public awareness about fire prevention measures, officials here on Sunday said.

To bolster monitoring and control efforts, a dedicated Fire Control Cell has been set up in the offices of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the Department Head in Lucknow. The Chief Forest Conservator (Publicity) has been designated as the nodal officer for the state headquarters’ cell, responsible for weekly reporting on fire incidents received from subordinate offices to the government.

It is worth mentioning here that according to the statistics available, the last three years have seen a substantial decrease in forest fire incidents, which serves as a testament to the state government’s vigilant monitoring.

As part of the ongoing Forest Fire Safety Week, scheduled until February 7, awareness campaigns, rallies, and competitions are being conducted throughout the state, aiming to inform a wider audience and mitigate the occurrences of forest fires.

At the divisional level, the Yogi government has mandated the establishment of control rooms, ensuring round-the-clock operations. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Department Head, Sudhir Kumar Sharma, highlighted that fire control rooms have been set up in each Divisional Forest Officer’s and Forest Conservator’s office.

Operational 24/7 with the deployment of employees in three shifts, these control rooms will register information in various ranges, ensuring swift action upon detection. The Forest Conservator (Zonal) will also communicate pertinent information to the Chief Forest Conservator.

Further, fire control cells have been instituted at the Regional and Divisional Chief Forest Conservator levels, facilitating the transmission of information from subordinate offices to officers. In Lucknow, a helpline number (0522-2207951) has been established for information related to forest fire incidents, with local helpline numbers made available for officers, the general public, and other departments in all districts.

The Yogi Government’s monitoring efforts have yielded positive results, leading to a significant decline in forest fire incidents over the last three years, as reflected in the following statistics:

November 2020 to June 2021: 10,275 cases

November 2021 to June 2022: 6,030 cases

November 2022 to June 2023: 3,339 cases

These figures underscore the effectiveness of the government’s proactive approach to curbing forest fires and preserving the state’s natural resources.