Lok Sabha Question No. 260 (STARRED), answered on 2018-12-28
Subject: Forest Fires
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: M. UDHAYAKUMAR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *260

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.12.2018

## Forest Fires

## *260.  ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased to state:

- (a) whether forest fires impacted a large area in many parts of the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the forest personnel in the country are ill equipped to deal with the forest fires; and
- (d) if  so,  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  provide  them  with  the  equipments  and communication facilities?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to (d)  The statement is laid on the Table of the House.

****

## STATEMENT  REFFERED  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  to  (d)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *260 DUE FOR 28.12.2018 REGARDING FOREST FIRES ASKED BY ADV.M. UDHAYAKUMAR

- (a) & (b) According  to  the  India  State  of  Forest  Report  (ISFR)  2015,  published  by  the Forest  Survey  of  India,  Dehradun,  the  estimated  fire  prone  area  under  heavy, moderate  and  mild  fire  are  2.40  percent,  7.49  percent  and  54.40  percent  of Recorded  Forest  Areas  (RFAs)  respectively,  thus  making  the  total  forest  fire prone area as 64.29 percent of the Recorded Forest Area (RFA).

These estimates are based on the field data from National Forest Inventory (NFI), wherein damages due to forest fire are observed occularly  in a circular area of two  hectare  around  the  plot  center  and  classified  as  'Heavy'  if  more  than  50 percent  of  the  area/crop  is  affected  by  fire;  'Moderate'  if  10-50  percent  of  the area is affected by fire; 'Mild' if the area affected is less than 10 percent.

The  Ministry  in  collaboration  with  the  World  Bank  has  conducted  a  study  on Situation Analysis of Forest Fire and released a study report titled 'Strengthening Forest  Fire  Management  in  India'  which  contains  various  recommendations regarding fire prevention, detection, suppression, post-fire management, engaging with  communities,  coordination  with  other  agencies  etc.  As  per  the  report,  20 districts mainly located in the North East accounted for about 40.29 per cent of all forest fires detected between 2003 and 2016. Similarly, 20 districts, mainly in Central India, accounted for about 48.18 percent of the total fire affected area in the  country  between  2003  and  2016.  The  details  are  given  in  Annexure-I  and

Annexure-II.

- (c) & (d) The Ministry has formulated National Action Plan on Forest Fire and circulated to all State/UT Governments for taking appropriate action for effective prevention and management of forest fire.

The  Ministry  supports  the  efforts  of  State/Union  Territory  Governments  in prevention and control of forest fire by providing financial assistance for various forest fire prevention and management measures such as creation and maintenance of fire lines in forest areas, engagement of fire watchers, creation of water  storage  structures  in  forest  areas,  strengthening  of  forest  infrastructure, procurement of fire fighting equipments, Soil and Moisture Conservation (SMC) works in high risk areas, awareness creation, incentivizing villages/communities for protection against forest fire etc. under the Centrally Sponsored Forest Fire Prevention  and  Management  (FPM)  Scheme.  The  details  of  fund  released  to State/  UT Governments for various forest protection measures including forest fire  prevention  and  management  under  the  erstwhile  Intensification  of  Forest Management  Scheme  (IFMS)  and  the  ongoing  Forest  Fire  Prevention  and Management (FPM) Scheme during the  last  three  years  (as  on  24.12.2018)  is given in Annexure-III.

## ANNEXURE-I

## ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *260 DUE FOR 28.12.2018 REGARDING FOREST FIRES ASKED BY ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR

| S.N o   | District, State, Region               | Fire detections, 2003-2016 (number)   |   fire 2003- |   Share of total forest cover, 2000 (%) |
|---------|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|--------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 1       | Lunglei, Mizoram, North East          | 13,453                                |         3.82 |                                    0.87 |
| 2       | Karbi Anglong, Assam, North East      | 12,238                                |         3.48 |                                    1.71 |
| 3       | Dima Hasao, Assam, North East         | 11,608                                |         3.3  |                                    0.91 |
| 4       | Churachandpur, Manipur, North East    | 11,068                                |         3.15 |                                    0.87 |
| 5       | Mamit, Mizoram, North East            | 9,005                                 |         2.56 |                                    0.58 |
| 6       | Lawngtlai, Mizoram, North East        | 8,501                                 |         2.42 |                                    0.43 |
| 7       | Tamenglong, Manipur, North East       | 8,163                                 |         2.32 |                                    0.79 |
| 8       | Aizawl, Mizoram, North East           | 6,705                                 |         1.91 |                                    0.61 |
| 9       | Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, Central      | 6,264                                 |         1.78 |                                    1.56 |
| 10      | Dhalai, Tripura, North East           | 6,234                                 |         1.77 |                                    0.4  |
|         | Top 10 subtotal                       | 93,239                                |        26.5  |                                    8.73 |
| 11      | Champhai, Mizoram, North East         | 5,940                                 |         1.69 |                                    0.64 |
| 12      | W. Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, North East | 5,220                                 |         1.48 |                                    0.88 |
| 13      | Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, Central     | 5,098                                 |         1.45 |                                    0.78 |
| 14      | Ribhoi, Meghalaya, North East         | 4,835                                 |         1.37 |                                    0.43 |
| 15      | Kandhamal, Odisha, Central            | 4,753                                 |         1.35 |                                    1.09 |
| 16      | E. Garo Hills, Meghalaya, North East  | 4,687                                 |         1.33 |                                    0.5  |
| 17      | Ukhrul, Manipur, North East           | 4,645                                 |         1.32 |                                    0.78 |
| 18      | Chandel, Manipur, North East          | 4,628                                 |         1.32 |                                    0.56 |
| 19      | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, Central        | 4,615                                 |         1.31 |                                    1.19 |
| 20      | North Tripura, Tripura, North East    | 4,087                                 |         1.16 |                                    0.33 |
|         | Top 20 subtotal                       | 141,747                               |        40.29 |                                   15.91 |

## ANNEXURE-II

## ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *260 DUE FOR 28.12.2018 REGARDING FOREST FIRES ASKED BY ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR

| S.No   | District, State, Region                         | Fire affected area, 2003-2016 (sq km)   |   Share of burnt area, 2003-2016 (%) |   Share of total forest cover, 2000 (%) |
|--------|-------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|--------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------|
| 1      | Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, Central                | 4,106                                   |                                 8.24 |                                    1.56 |
| 2      | Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, Central                  | 2,633                                   |                                 5.29 |                                    1.19 |
| 3      | Khammam, Telangana, South                       | 1,923                                   |                                 3.86 |                                    1.13 |
| 4      | Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, Central               | 1,346                                   |                                 2.7  |                                    0.78 |
| 5      | Warangal, Telangana, South                      | 1,273                                   |                                 2.56 |                                    0.45 |
| 6      | Koriya, Chhattisgarh, Central                   | 1,169                                   |                                 2.35 |                                    0.42 |
| 7      | Adilabad, Telangana, South                      | 995                                     |                                 2    |                                    0.39 |
| 8      | Chandrapur, Maharashtra, Central                | 970                                     |                                 1.95 |                                    0.31 |
| 9      | Surguja, Chhattisgarh, Central                  | 948                                     |                                 1.9  |                                    0.79 |
| 10     | Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, South                  | 895                                     |                                 1.8  |                                    0.23 |
|        | Top 10 subtotal                                 | 16,258                                  |                                32.64 |                                    7.24 |
| 11     | Amravati, Maharashtra, Central                  | 888                                     |                                 1.78 |                                    0.23 |
| 12     | Y.S.R., Andhra Pradesh, South                   | 854                                     |                                 1.71 |                                    0.32 |
| 13     | Prakasam, Andhra Pradesh, South                 | 849                                     |                                 1.7  |                                    0.31 |
| 14     | Dakshin Bastar Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, Central | 803                                     |                                 1.61 |                                    0.73 |
| 15     | Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, Central                 | 799                                     |                                 1.6  |                                    0.36 |
| 16     | Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Central                   | 777                                     |                                 1.56 |                                    0.5  |
| 17     | Betul, Madhya Pradesh, Central                  | 727                                     |                                 1.46 |                                    0.29 |
| 18     | Champhai, Mizoram, North East                   | 707                                     |                                 1.42 |                                    0.64 |
| 19     | Lawngtlai, Mizoram, North East                  | 673                                     |                                 1.35 |                                    0.43 |
| 20     | Dima Hasao, Assam, North East                   | 665                                     |                                 1.34 |                                    0.91 |
|        | Top 20 subtotal                                 | 24,000                                  |                                48.18 |                                   11.97 |

## ANNEXURE-III

## ANNEXURE REFFERED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) & (d) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION No. *260 DUE FOR 28.12.2018 REGARDING FOREST FIRES ASKED BY ADV. M. UDHAYAKUMAR

(Rs. in lakhs)

| S. No.            | States            | 2015-16 Released   | 2016-17 Released   | 2017-18 Released   | 2018-19 Released (As on 24.12.2018)   |
|-------------------|-------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Other States      | Other States      | Other States       | Other States       | Other States       | Other States                          |
| 1                 | Andhra Pradesh    | 0.00               | 0.00               | 0.00               | 260.06                                |
| 2                 | Bihar             | 59.09              | 88.59              | 75.00              | 57.17                                 |
| 3                 | Chhattisgarh      | 120.75             | 211.04             | 168.00             | 104.60                                |
| 4                 | Gujarat           | 179.99             | 122.26             | 75.00              | 92.16                                 |
| 5                 | Goa               | 0.00               | 0.00               | 0.00               | 0.00                                  |
| 6                 | Haryana           | 77.86              | 93.91              | 75.00              | 0.00                                  |
| 7                 | Himachal Pradesh  | 302.16             | 331.36             | 276.70             | 0.00                                  |
| 8                 | Jammu& Kashmir    | 193.93             | 95.61              | 75.00              | 0.00                                  |
| 9                 | Jharkhand         | 83.62              | 199.63             | 105.00             | 107.84                                |
| 10                | Karnataka         | 228.19             | 203.27             | 105.00             | 148.36                                |
| 11                | Kerala            | 86.00              | 163.65             | 234.53             | 220.83                                |
| 12                | Madhya Pradesh    | 420.00             | 281.15             | 168.00             | 572.08                                |
| 13                | Maharashtra       | 447.32             | 372.58             | 321.58             | 629.76                                |
| 14                | Orissa            | 136.00             | 266.14             | 168.00             | 348.01                                |
| 15                | Punjab            | 77.00              | 0.00               | 75.00              | 0.00                                  |
| 16                | Rajasthan         | 112.54             | 174.22             | 105.00             | 98.82                                 |
| 17                | Tamil Nadu        | 203.02             | 74.29              | 105.00             | 0.00                                  |
| 18                | Telangana         | 0.00               | 0.00               | 105.00             | 0.00                                  |
| 19                | Uttar Pradesh     | 156.15             | 139.72             | 75.00              | 100.61                                |
| 20                | Uttarakhand       | 356.83             | 304.03             | 168.00             | 438.38                                |
| 21                | West Bengal       | 0.00               | 92.83              | 75.00              | 54.14                                 |
|                   | Total             | 3240.45            | 3214.28            | 2554.81            | 3232.82                               |
| NE &Sikkim        | NE &Sikkim        | NE &Sikkim         | NE &Sikkim         | NE &Sikkim         | NE &Sikkim                            |
| 1                 | Assam             | 0                  | 0                  | 0.00               | 93.23                                 |
| 2                 | Arunachal Pradesh | 85.07              | 181.34             | 102.00             | 0.00                                  |
| 3                 | Manipur           | 240.76             | 125.02             | 219.88             | 181.73                                |
| 4                 | Meghalaya         | 180.26             | 126.57             | 104.63             | 113.53                                |
| 5                 | Mizoram           | 153.17             | 131.29             | 90.59              | 88.37                                 |
| 6                 | Nagaland          | 122.6              | 170.01             | 92.56              | 66.49                                 |
| 7                 | Sikkim            | 150                | 119.73             | 148.59             | 0.00                                  |
| 8                 | Tripura           | 147.19             | 190.76             | 66.00              | 65.40                                 |
|                   | Total             | 1079.05            | 1044.72            | 824.25             | 608.75                                |
| Union Territories | Union Territories | Union Territories  | Union Territories  | Union Territories  | Union Territories                     |
| 1                 | A&NIslands        | 28.00              | 56.23              | 9.00               | 0.00                                  |
| 2                 | Chandigarh        | 36.99              | 74.52              | 8.00               | 0.00                                  |
| 3                 | D&N Haveli        | 0.00               | 0.00               | 0.00               | 0.00                                  |
| 4                 | Daman &Diu        | 0.00               | 0.00               | 0.00               | 0.00                                  |
| 5                 | Lakshadweep       | 0.00               | 0.00               | 0.00               | 0.00                                  |
| 6                 | New Delhi         | 0.00               | 50.00              | 30.00              | 0.00                                  |
| 7                 | Pondicherry       | 0.00               | 0.00               | 30.00              | 0.00                                  |
|                   | Total             | 64.99              | 180.75             | 77.00              | 0.00                                  |
|                   | Grand Total       | 4384.49            | 4439.75            | 3456.06            | 3841.57                               |