GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2983
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018
Forest Fire
2983. KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE
SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA
SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
- (a) whether the Government has released a report Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India recently, if so, the recommendations and highlights of the report;
- (b) whether the Government has prepared a national plan to prevent and control forest fires, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to incentivize communities and forest departments and launch mass social movement to control forest fires, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government is implementing Forest Fire Prevention and Management Scheme and if so, the Funds allocated under the above Scheme and the reasons for not releasing 45- 65 per cent of the funds allocated during the last two years; and
- (e) the proactive and aggressive strategy being adopted to reduce incidence of forest fires in the country?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) The Ministry in collaboration with the World Bank has conducted a study on Situation Analysis of Forest Fire and released a study report titled “Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India” which contains various recommendations regarding fire prevention, detection, suppression, post-fire management, engaging with communities, coordination with other agencies etc. The inputs from the study were also used by the Ministry in formulation of National Action Plan on Forest Fire.
(b) The Ministry has formulated National Action Plan on Forest Fire and circulated to all State/UT Governments for taking appropriate action for effective prevention and management of forest fire.
(c) The State/UT Forest Departments involve local communities, Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) and Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) etc. in various forest protection and conservation measures including prevention and control of forest fire.
(d) & (e) The Ministry supports the efforts of State/Union Territory Governments in prevention and control of forest fire by providing financial assistance under the Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FPM) Scheme. The details of fund released to State/ UT Governments for various forest protection measures including forest fire prevention and management under the erstwhile Intensification of Forest Management Scheme (IFMS) and the ongoing Forest Fire Prevention and Management (FPM) Scheme during the last two years is given in Annexure-I. Funds are released to States after receiving the Annual Plan of Operation and Utilization Certificate (UC) and other documents. The delay occurs due to non-receipt of UC and other documents in time from the State Governments. The Ministry has formulated National Action Plan on Forest Fire and circulated to all State/UT Governments for taking appropriate action for effective prevention and management of forest fire. The responsibility of forest fire prevention and management lies primarily with the respective State/UT Governments.
ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2983 DUE FOR 28.12.2018 REGARDING FOREST FIRE ASKED BY KUMARI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE AND SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA
| S. No. |
States | 2016-17 (Released) | 2017-18 (Released) |
| Other States |
|||
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 2 | Bihar | 88.59 | 75.00 |
| 3 | Chhattisgarh | 211.04 | 168.00 |
| 4 | Gujarat | 122.26 | 75.00 |
| 5 | Goa | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 6 | Haryana | 93.91 | 75.00 |
| 7 | Himachal Pradesh | 331.36 | 276.70 |
| 8 | Jammu & Kashmir | 95.61 | 75.00 |
| 9 | Jharkhand | 199.63 | 105.00 |
| 10 | Karnataka | 203.27 | 105.00 |
| 11 | Kerala | 163.65 | 234.53 |
| 12 | Madhya Pradesh | 281.15 | 168.00 |
| 13 | Maharashtra | 372.58 | 321.58 |
| 14 | Orissa | 266.14 | 168.00 |
| 15 | Punjab | 0.00 | 75.00 |
| 16 | Rajasthan | 174.22 | 105.00 |
| 17 | Tamil Nadu | 74.29 | 105.00 |
| 18 | Telangana | 0.00 | 105.00 |
| 19 | Uttar Pradesh | 139.72 | 75.00 |
| 20 | Uttarakhand | 304.03 | 168.00 |
| 21 | West Bengal | 92.83 | 75.00 |
| Total | 3214.28 | 2554.81 | |
| NE & Sikkim | |||
| 1 | Assam | 0 | 0.00 |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | 181.34 | 102.00 |
| 3 | Manipur | 125.02 | 219.88 |
| 4 | Meghalaya | 126.57 | 104.63 |
| 5 | Mizoram | 131.29 | 90.59 |
| 6 | Nagaland | 170.01 | 92.56 |
| 7 | Sikkim | 119.73 | 148.59 |
| 8 | Tripura | 190.76 | 66.00 |
| Total | 1044.72 | 824.25 | |
| Union Territories |
|||
| 1 | A & N Islands | 56.23 | 9.00 |
| 2 | Chandigarh | 74.52 | 8.00 |
| 3 | D&N Haveli | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 4 | Daman & Diu | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 5 | Lakshadweep | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| 6 | New Delhi | 50.00 | 30.00 |
| 7 | Pondicherry | 0.00 | 30.00 |
| Total | 180.75 | 77.00 | |
| Grand Total |
4439.75 | 3456.06 | |
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