State maps at-risk zones, bans burning of 'aada' after March 31 to curb wildfires

The Uttarakhand forest department on Sunday said that it has taken adequate preparations to tackle forest fires across the state.

- HT Correspondent

DEHRADUN: The official forest fire season starts on February 15 and ends on June 15.

Additional principal chief conservator of forests and state nodal officer for forest fires Nishant Verma said, "It is true that every year during summers, forest fires cause irreparable loss to valuable forest wealth. So, the principal secretary, forest and environment of the Uttarakhand government has issued appropriate instructions to all the district magistrates (DMs) to ensure effective action to reduce and control forest fires during the fire season and also take required action."

"We have carried out mapping of fire-risk zones by assessing the sensitivity of forest areas to forest fire. The districts of Almora, Pithoragarh, Champawat, Bageshwar, Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal and Uttarkashi have been put in the sensitive category due to the abundance of pine trees," Verma added.

"All DMs have been asked to conduct weekly and fortnightly meetings with the other departments concerned. They have also been asked to seek assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), paramilitary forces, and quick reaction teams to control the blazing forest fires," he said. He added, "We have also issued instructions to regularise the practice of burning 'aada or keda' and put a complete ban on it after March 31."

The practice of burning 'aada' (or keda) refers to the traditional method used by farmers to clear their fields before sowing crops. Aada generally consists of bushes, shrubs, dry vegetation, and other plant material that grows on the farmland or surrounding areas. This burning is done as a way to prepare the soil, control weeds, and make the land more fertile for the upcoming planting season.