Haridwar, March 21
Numerous forests fires have been reported in Uttarakhand since February following a dry winter this season. Though the forest department is trying its level best, the situation looks too grim for the dry and hot months ahead.

Forest wealth in Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts continues to burn causing severe damage to wildlife and the environment.

In Tehri district, forests worth lakhs have been reduced to ashes in the fire that took place this fortnight and the fire continues to engulf more and more areas.

In Pratapnagar sub-division, specially in Bhadura Patti, Upali Ramoli, Ghansali and Oun villages, fire has damaged several hectares of forest.

Similar reports have come from Bhilangana area of Tehri Garhwal where for the past 12 days, the forest department has been unable to control the fire there. It is now threatening to engulf the nearby villages.

Though forest officials claim they are working day and night to overcome these fires, yet the intensity and the area affected is so large that they have not been able to fully control the fire.

In Uttarkashi, the fire has spread to upper Yamuna forests and Uttarkashi forest division. In the Singtoor range too, a fire was reported in the Govind animal sanctuary where Banj and rhododendron trees were severely damaged.

At the world-famous Nanda Devi National Park, the fire that had spread was controlled but not before few hectares of forest area got affected.

In Pauri district, fire has spread to several parts. In the Jamlakhal forest area, the smoke from the fire, which began yesterday and had burnt several hectares of the forest wealth, has filled the area with smoke.

Last week, the fire in Kandoliya forest area in Pauri Garhwal engulfed the famous Kandoliya Mandir forest area up to the PWD guest house.

Many instances of fire have been reported this season though the peak of summer is yet to come.

In the Nagdev forest range of Pauri, saving herbs from these fires has become an arduous task for forest officials. Dheeraj Singh Rawat, ADO, Khirshu range in Pauri Garhwal, said that there are three categories of forest fires - surface fire, ground fire and crown fire.

The majority of these fires are crown fires and cause the most damage. They spread from lower to upper parts in a crown-shaped circle and are difficult to control.

Earlier, the forest department in early part of February used to resort to ‘control burning’ where they would create ‘fire lines’ to control the spread of fire during summers. But this year, forests across the state have been in flames since February.

DN Semwal, district forest officer (DFO), Pauri Garhwal, said that all range officers have been directed to be alert considering the numerous instances of fire in various parts. People are also being asked to inform instantly if they see any fire in the jungle.

Villagers and tourists are also being urged not to leave anything inflammable in the forest area and cautioned not to venture in forests at this time.

The animals are also getting affected by the fire. The temperature has also risen alarmingly due to the forest fires in the state and the beasts are also unable get grass and water.

The forest department in Garhwal region has been equipped with latest equipment and master control rooms are being formed at all divisions. The master control room at Buwakhal in Pauri has started operating.

All crew stations in Garhwal forest division are being given instruments to measure humidity and temperature of the forest area so that they can get prior information about the fire. Computer technology has also been put to use this season.

In the Rajaji National Park, which is spread over Pauri, Dehradun and Haridwar districts, park authorities have upped the precautionary measures in view of last year’s forest fires.

They have formed crew stations and are alerting park employees and tourists flocking to the park besides the residents on the periphery of the park.

A major fire was averted in the park area periphery yesterday when a fire was reported near the BHEL hospital. The CISF and fire-fighting teams pitched in and the fire was prevented from spreading to the Rajaji.

Rajaji Park director SS Rasailly said that as part of the precautionary measures, crew stations have been formed to avert any casualty in the park.

Despite several attempts and precautionary methods, forests fires are on the rise in Uttarakhand.

The department had formed Forest Fire Defence Committees and conducted awareness programmes in forest divisions but still a lot needs to be done.

Experts say that unless every person in the state is not sensitised and given training to save forests from fire, attempts by the forest department and the government will not fully fructify.

“The need is to treat forest wealth as one’s personal and national asset. The forest department should be given additional resources to tackle the crisis,” opined Joginder Kumar, an environmentalist drawing from his vast experience after having seen such fires in Himachal Pradesh jungles.

Dehradun, March 21
Finally, to make way for compensatory afforestation, Uttarakhand government has mooted the concept of land banks. This comes at a time when the much-needed development schemes continue to take their toll on forests, even as the state forest department finds it hard to search for land to carry out compensatory afforestation.

According to guidelines of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, for trees felled to make way for any development project, compensatory afforestation has to be done compulsorily in an area double the dimension of that affected by the project.

Uttarakhand has witnessed some speedy forestland transfers to start numerous development projects after the state came into existence. A total of 350 square kilometres of forestland has been transferred for non-forestry purposes, including irrigation, roads, tele-communication, mining projects, drinking water projects, transmission line and others. But these projects have come at the cost of forests.

As many as 11,523 hectares of forestland was transferred for mining projects, 6,208 hectares for hydropower projects, 5,007 hectares for road construction, 1,205 hectares for communication projects, 962 hectares for transmission lines, 496 hectares for irrigation and 7,644 hectares for other non-forestry purposes.

However, no compensatory afforestation has been undertaken. Further, there are another 322 development projects that are in process of forestland transfer clearance. According to estimates, 10,000 hectares of land would be required for compensatory afforestation in lieu of forestland transfer in the next five years. From where this land would come, is a million dollar question!

The government has been finding it hard to strike a balance between development and afforestation. While public pressure continues to mount for speedy forestland transfer for development schemes, finding alternate land for planting new saplings has become a big challenge.

After much brainstorming, the state government has finally come out with the proposal for land banks in every district, which would identify Non ZA category land that mostly comprises the gram samaj land and utilising it for afforestation. In an order dated January 9 this year, which was issued to Commissioners of Garhwal and Kumaon, and Chief Commissioner, Revenue, the Principal Secretary Uttarakhand government has asked the DMs to identify land in their respective districts and send the details to the government for formation of land banks. For this, an area of 1,000 to 1,500 hectares has to be identified in each district. This would lead to around 10,000 hectares in toto.

The government had also categorically held that land banks should ensure community participation and restoration of traditional rights. Under the administrative control of the forest department, these banks will be managed scientifically to extract maximum benefits.

“We are sending details of land falling under van panchayats as part of the initiative,” said District Magistrate of Dehradun Amit Negi.

The government has also called for ensuring that the land so identified should not in any way affect the necessities of the villagers.

Forest secretary Anup Badhawan said a land bank would certainly further the cause of compensatory afforestation, and strike a balance between development and conservation efforts.

Dehradun, March 21
While most of the saints here are trying to carve a niche for themselves in the political arena, this one is different. Swami Dhiraj has taken up the cause of environment in the fragile Himalayan environs.

With an aim of generating awareness vis-à-vis the environment, Sri Ravishankar, popularly known as Swami Dhiraj, has decided to embark upon a solo tour of 1,500 kms across the state.

He would begin his tour on March 31 from Ram jhula (Rishikesh) at 11 am, after a dip in the holy Ganga with the message “Green Himalaya clean Himalaya.

He would pass through 108 holy places in Garhwal region and after covering a distance of more than 1500 km, of which 1,000 would be on foot, end his journey at Laxman Jhula on September 30.

“The purpose of this journey is to bring about awareness about environmental issues. We will be motivating the locals as well as the tourists,” said Swami Dhiraj said.

Any pollution in the hills is detrimental to wild flora and fauna, therefore, it is important to enhance conservation efforts, he added.

Swami Dhiraj said Garhwal hills have been badly affected by pollution, and immediate conservation efforts are the need of the hour.

Dehradun, March 21
There are quite a few animation institutions in Dehradun that are providing bright career opportunities to the students here.

Few years back there where not many institutes to cater to the needs of the students in the field of multimedia, but institutes like ‘Frameboxx’ and ‘Animaster’ are giving latest training required in this field. Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC) has opened its branch in the city, nine months ago.

“The response has been very good and our eight to nine students have already been placed to various studios,” said Ruchika, programme advisor, MAAC.

“Our main motive was to give students all the latest facilities within the limits of their own city, moreover the city is a hub of education and has immense potential of growth in this field also,” said Nitin Surendra, Center head Frameboxx.

“Animation is a very interesting field and new institutes are adding advantage for students who want to make a career out of it,” said Aachal, a student.

All the animation institutes running in the city provide various diplomas and certificate courses. Animation has got a great future in India and around 70 movies are going to showcase some good visual effects.

Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Noida and parts of South India have a great exposure to the field but Dehradun lacks awareness and professional studios, which are the perquisite for the practical knowledge about the animation.

“Because of not so equipped studios students generally move out for better professional trainings, ” said Gaurav Narang of Web Com Institute of Technology. “We organise workshops and other programmes to update students with the latest developments in the field.

Students are preparing their projects for 24 FPS awards (animation awards) which are round the corner,” said Ruchika. After the completion of the course students are placed in various magazines, production houses and news channels.

“Known production houses such as Rhythm, Tata LXI or Paprika are called for the placements, and after the completion of the course students are taught to develop a project, and they can earn anything between Rs. 15000 to Rs. 25000 a month.

“Three years ago when we started our institute people where hesitant, but now we have at least 60 students,” said Ranjana, a counsellor at Xlora Design School.