JAMMU, FEBRUARY 15- J&K Forest Department, in collaboration with State Disaster Response Force and Civil Defence Department, organised a one day Training Workshop on “Forest Fires and Disaster Management” for frontline staff of Forest Department and Forest Protection Force, here at Convention Centre.
Commissioner/Secretary Forests, Sarita Chauhan, who was chief guest at the workshop, expressed her concern over the harmful effects of forest fires, which include degradation of forests and impacting socio-economic condition of forest dependent communities.
She highlighted the mechanism of “Incident Command System” where in an integrated approach is followed in situations such as forest fires. “This requires a perfect coordination among teams of Forest Department, FPF, District authorities, SDRF and Civil Defence,” she added.
While appreciating the efforts of Forest Department for timely organizing the one day training workshop on “Forest Fires and Disaster Management”, she called upon strengthening the mechanism for prevention and control of forest fires and highlighted the need for Mock drills and training of frontline staff. She emphasised that forest fires can be prevented effectively with good preparedness and cooperation of local communities.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mohit Gera, PCCF, J&K informed on the vulnerability of forests of UT of J&K to forest fires and how changing climate is linked with increasing incidences of fire. He highlighted the preparedness of the forest department in prevention and control of forest fires in terms of spreading awareness, setting up fire control rooms, provisioning of fire fighting tools and equipment, engagement of seasonal fire watchers and increased patrolling of forest staff. He also impressed upon the forest staff to have good liaison with the village forest communities so that they participate in large numbers in case of fire. The role of technology in creation of fire alerts, SMS, Mobile Applications and preparation of vulnerability maps was also highlighted.
Dr. C.M. Seth, former Chairman, J&K Pollution Control Board, who was the special guest on the occasion, highlighted the major problems faced by staff on account of accessibility of forest fire sites, difficult terrain, changing social structure and the required infrastructure. He further emphasised that traditional methods of fighting forest fires are effective and needs to be improved with innovations.
Earlier, Sandeep Kujur, Chief Conservator of Forests, welcomed the participants and emphasized on the advance preparation of mitigation plan for dealing with forest fires.
During the program, an in-house panel discussion on “Preparedness for prevention and Control of Forest Fires in J&K” was held which was moderated by Samuel Changkija and Irfan Ali Shah, Conservators of Forests. A two minute silence was also observed in the remembrance of three firemen, who lost their lives in a recent fire incident at Talab Tillo and also for forest staff, who martyred in the past for protection of forests. Later on, practical demonstration on forest related disaster mitigation was given by personnel of Civil Defence, J&K for frontline staff of Forest Department and Forest Protection Force.
The workshop, amongst others, was attended by P.K. Singh, Director Soil & Water Conservation Department; Suresh Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K; Asaf Mehmood, Director FPF; besides Chief Conservators of Forests, Conservators of Forests, Joint Directors, Regional Heads, DFOs, Principals and Instructors of Forest Training Schools, officials of SDRF, Civil Defence, Range officers, Assistant Directors of FPF and forest guard trainees.
