Sri Yashpal Arya, Leader of Opposition said that the continuous forest fires in Uttarakhand are very harmful for the environment in summers. Today the continuously burning forests in the state and the damage caused by it is a matter of concern. Sri Arya said that in the first week of April, the situation became so dire that hundreds of hectares of forest in the state were burnt to ashes and thousands of hectares are under threat.
Sri Arya said that the the Forest Department and Disaster Management Department of the state are nowhere to be seen in this matter. Along with the invaluable forest wealth of the state burning with fire, our wild animals, trees, plants, water sources and even glaciers are also in danger from this fierce forest fire. Sometimes this fire reaches rural residential areas causing loss of life and loss to the cattle of the villagers.
He said that every year incidents of forest fires have started increasing but due to the inaction of the government no concrete steps are being taken to prevent it. When cases of forest fire increase in the state the government only does a formality in the name of prevention due to which nature and the public are suffering the brunt of this inaction.
Sri Yashpal Arya asked after all who is responsible for this? Is this not in the knowledge of the government? What is the govt of Uttarakhand doing? It is only the month of April- If the situation remains the same the situation will be more horrific in May and June. Water sources are drying up. There is fog everywhere. The situation is getting worse day by day for asthma patients. In this dusty and smoky environment from the elderly to the young and healthy people are also victims of infection. What happened to the 15000 firewatches recruitment? Will they be recruited after the fire season is over.
Sri Yashpal Arya said that the forest Department, its fire brigade, its duties and its preparation are zero this time too. Uttarakhand has 67 percent forests which play an important role in the balance of the global environment as well as in the tourism of Uttarakhand which also benefits the people here with employment. He said that it is unfortunate that the government has no vision on such a sensitive issue. The government has all the resources but it has neither any preparation nor any vision.
