With the forest fire season in Uttarakhand set to begin on February 15, the state forest department has intensified preparations. The government has appointed nodal officers to oversee fire control measures, and a mock drill will be conducted in seven districts on February 13 with support from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The drill was originally scheduled for January 30 but has been postponed.
Key Preparations
- A review meeting will be held on February 11, chaired by Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Secretary Vinod Kumar Suman.
- Ten senior forest officials, including Principal Chief Conservators and Chief Conservators, have been assigned to various districts for fire management oversight.
- Nodal officers will monitor fire preparedness at the district level and ensure effective response and mitigation during fire incidents.
Implementation of Sheetlakhet Model
To strengthen fire management strategies, the Sheetlakhet Model from Almora Forest Division is being implemented across all forest divisions. Forest personnel and fire management committee members are being trained through on-site visits.
The state aims to enhance early detection and rapid response mechanisms to minimize forest fire damage during the upcoming fire season.
