Uttarakhand CM Dhami reviews measures taken to prevent forest fire

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], May 8 : Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday reviewed the measures being taken to prevent forest fires and preparations regarding the upcoming monsoon season.
The Chief Minister directed that all the secretaries should be given the responsibility of different districts to completely stop the forest fire. All the secretaries should go to the respective districts and do a field inspection of the areas affected by forest fire and take effective steps to stop the forest fire.
On the instructions of the Chief Minister, 10 personnel of the Forest Department who were negligent in preventing forest fire have been suspended. Instructions have been given to take disciplinary action against some other personnel as well. He directed all the District Magistrates to take public cooperation for effective prevention of forest fire. Strict action should be taken as per rules against those who are found involved in incidents of setting fire in the forests. Response time should be minimised to stop forest fires.
The Chief Minister said that an effective plan should be made for collecting Pirul from forests. Pirul collection centres should be made. Cooperation of the cooperative department should also be taken in this. The amount given for the Pirul collection should be increased.
During the meeting regarding preparations for the upcoming monsoon season, the Chief Minister directed that the process of cleaning drains, dredging and channelisation should be completed before the monsoon. The work of construction and repair of safety walls along the river should be completed on time. He directed that a safety audit of all old bridges should be done. Complete arrangement of valley bridges should be made in sensitive areas given the rainy season.
The Chief Minister said that a coordination committee of the concerned departments should be formed to know the current status of the depth and area of all the dams in the state. It should also be assessed what is the status of the depth and area of the dam from the time of construction of the dam till the present time.
He directed that before the start of the monsoon season, the Health Department should make full preparations along with awareness to prevent dengue, malaria and other water-borne diseases. Special attention should be paid to cleanliness. Given the disaster, the Rapid Action Team of the Health Department should be kept ready.
The Chief Minister said that work with a pro-active approach to solve the problems of the public. All necessary arrangements should be made for an adequate supply of drinking water. Adequate alternative arrangements should be made for clean drinking water. Where there is a problem with drinking water, drinking water should be supplied through tankers and mules. For this, all the implementing agencies should work in coordination.
CM Dhami directed that all arrangements should be kept smooth given the Chardham Yatra in the state. It should be ensured that people get alerts related to weather information through SMS. The information system should be strengthened for the exchange of Chardham and other information related to the weather. Given the convenience of the devotees, all departments should ensure better arrangements at their level. Keeping in mind public convenience, maximum use of modern technology should be made.
He said that given the disaster, adequate arrangements for JCB should be made at sensitive places and Chardham Yatra routes.