JFMCs involve in prevention and control of forest fire
	15:30 IST

Rajya Sabha The fires in the forest areas occur frequently during the dry season of the year and are of the nature of ground fires only. As such these fires do not cause devastation or ravaging of forests. In Hill States like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh incidences of forest fire mostly occur in the Pine forest areas where dry Pine needles burn. Even such fires do not cause devastation or ravaging of forests. The State Forest Departments take preventive measures for warding off such fires by creating fire lines and generating awareness among the people about the fire hazards. In most States local people are involved through the Joint Forest Management Committees for prevention and control of incidences of forest fire. The Government of India under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes also provide financial assistance to States for forest fire control and management. As there being no devastation of forests, restoration works are not required to be planned. However, regeneration of younger crop is supplemented during rainy season. Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh replied in a written question by Shri Kalraj Mishra in Rajya Sabha today. KP/DB