People against incidents of forest fire

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, APRIL 23

 Haryana Forest Department has cautioned the people against incidents of forest fire and has advised them to protect the forests.

While stating this here today, a spokesman of the Forest Department said that reasons of forest fire included uncontrolled fire by passersby and moving vehicles, deliberately lit fire by shepherds to clear land for fresh grass and for encroachments, fires caused by negligence after cooking in forests and also by throwing burning cigarette butts. Uncontrolled fire is also lit to keep away wild animals from farm fields and to remove residue of agricultural crop from farmers’ fields, he added. 

He urged the people to cooperate with the Department and protect the forests as these are essential to maintain ecological balance.

He said that a target has been set to raise plantations over an area of 17,214 hectares during this financial year as against an area of 13,800 hectares brought under afforestation during last financial year. He said that during last financial year, the Department had planted 2.18 crore saplings  whereas 2.82 crore   were planted by other agencies. For the current financial year, a target has been set to plant three crore saplings. These saplings would be sold from State nurseries at nominal rates, he added.