Despite measures, Maharashtra's eastern forests remain vulnerable to fires, primarily from human negligence, with 204 incidents reported this year (January-April 15) by Forest Minister Ganesh Naik
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Forest fires continue to pose a significant threat to Maharashtra's ecosystems, particularly in the eastern regions of the state, despite various measures and technological interventions, a senior forest department official confirmed on Sunday, reported news agency PTI.
Earlier, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik had informed the legislature that between January 1 and April 15 this year, 204 forest fire incidents were reported from diverse forest areas across several districts. Naik further stated that most of these fires were attributable to human negligence or natural factors. "Although no wildlife deaths have been reported during these incidents, the recurrence of fires remains a concern," he had said.
The official detailed that the Forest Department has undertaken multiple steps, including issuing fire prevention guidelines, training personnel, and deploying firefighting equipment.
"In January 2024 alone, eight fire incidents were recorded," the official said, adding that the illegal burning of forest areas is being addressed under provisions of the Indian Forest Act.
According to PTI, in several regions across the state, including Konkan, Vidarbha, and the northern parts, people intentionally start forest fires to deter wild animals. Fires are also used to clear forested patches and establish claims to land, as many areas lack clearly demarcated forest boundaries, the official explained.
Efforts to prevent these fires include the precise marking of forest boundaries, the creation of fire lines, and increased patrolling in vulnerable areas. "We have trained staff in fire management and are using modern equipment to enhance response time," the official stated.
However, despite these comprehensive measures, a large number of fires continue to erupt, he conceded.
According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, released in December last year, Maharashtra ranked fifth in the country with 16,008 forest fire incidents between November 2023 and June 2024. Of these, Gadchiroli alone accounted for a staggering 7,042 cases, marking the highest number for any single district in India, reported PTI.
"The department is using advanced tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to identify high-risk zones. Forest fire control centres have been established, fire-blower machines are used to remove dry leaf litter, and observation towers have been installed in sensitive areas," the official added.
Meanwhile, the state has also recorded a sharp increase in human-wildlife conflicts. Official records indicate that such incidents, encompassing human deaths, injuries, crop damage, and livestock loss, surged from 44,692 in 2020-21 to 237,841 in 2023-24.
To address compensation and related concerns arising from these conflicts, the state government allocated Rs 80 crore in both 2020-21 and 2021-22, followed by Rs 127.1 crore in 2022-23, Rs 145 crore in 2023-24, and Rs 220.86 crore in 2024-25.
"The Forest Department has submitted a proposal to the Finance Department for additional financial provision based on the increasing number of conflict cases. The proposal, based on data from December 2023, is currently under review," the official concluded.
(With inputs from PTI)
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