DEC 16 I: In view of the ongoing dry spell and rising risk of forest fires, the Forest Department Doda has rolled out a series of preventive and preparedness measures to safeguard forest resources across the district.
A comprehensive review meeting involving all wings of the Forest Department—including Soil Conservation, Social Forestry, Wildlife, and Territorial Forests—was convened under the chairmanship of the Conservator of Forests, Chenab Circle. The meeting focused on strengthening inter-departmental coordination and ensuring readiness to respond swiftly to any forest fire incidents.
Control Rooms and Rapid Response Teams Activated
Providing details of the preparedness plan, Wildlife Warden Mahinder Jamwal stated that divisional and range-level forest fire control rooms have been established to ensure round-the-clock monitoring and rapid communication. These control rooms will act as nodal points for receiving alerts, coordinating field responses, and disseminating real-time information.
He further informed that special response teams have been placed on standby at strategic locations to tackle fire incidents at the earliest stage, thereby preventing their spread and minimizing damage to forest ecosystems.
Firefighting Equipment on High Alert
As part of the preventive strategy, the Forest Department has ensured that firefighting equipment and tools are fully operational and readily available. Field staff have been instructed to remain vigilant, especially in vulnerable forest patches prone to fire outbreaks during dry conditions.
Regular patrolling has been intensified, and frontline forest personnel have been directed to maintain close coordination with local communities to report any signs of fire or illegal activities that could trigger forest fires.
Focus on Prevention and Awareness
Officials emphasized that prevention remains the most effective approach to forest fire management. The department is also focusing on awareness generation among villagers, forest dwellers, and grazing communities about the dangers of careless activities such as burning debris or unattended campfires.
The Forest Department reiterated its commitment to protecting biodiversity, wildlife habitats, and forest wealth, and urged the public to cooperate by promptly informing authorities about any fire-related incidents.
Coordinated Effort to Protect Forests
The initiative reflects a proactive and coordinated approach by the Forest Department, aligned with the broader environmental protection efforts of the Jammu and Kashmir administration. With temperatures rising and moisture levels declining, officials stressed that early preparedness is crucial to prevent large-scale forest fires.
