Shimla 22 March:
Chief Secretary B.K. Agarwal today launched forest fire safety campaign from the state Secretariat to be undertaken for nine days across the state. Under the campaign, the four teams of the forest publicity division would aware the general public on different routes about the safety of forests from the forest fires.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Secretary said that the awareness programmes would be organised in 64 forest ranges through Nukkar Nataks, exhibitions and distributing publicity material on preventing the forest fires. The local communities, non-government organisations and departments concerned would be included in the forest fire fighting force. He added that presently there were 13500 members of rapid forest fire fighting force in the state. Besides, discussions would also be held with the common people by the forest officers and subject specialists in 80 sensitive forest areas.
Shri Agarwal appealed to the people of the state to give their active support for preventing the forest fires which causes heavy loss to the natural resources and human property as well.
The senior officers of the forest department were present on this occasion.
