Mandi, May 15: A high-level field inspection was conducted on Thursday in forest fire-prone areas of the Mandi Forest Division to assess preparedness and mitigation measures. The visit was led by S.P. Negi, IFS, Deputy Director General, Government of India.
He was accompanied by Aditya Kumar, Senior Advisor at the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA); Nishant Mandhotra, Conservator of Forests, Hamirpur; Mrityunjay Madhav, Conservator of Forests, Mandi; Vasu Dogar, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Mandi; Navjot Miyan, Assistant Conservator of Forests; and other regional officers and staff.
The team visited several sensitive locations to review challenges related to forest fires and deliberated on potential strategies for fire prevention, early detection, and rapid response. Emphasis was placed on the importance of community participation and inter-departmental coordination to minimize the impact of forest fire incidents.
This inspection reflects the government’s and associated agencies’ commitment to protecting forest ecosystems and promoting sustainable forest management. A detailed report of the visit will be compiled by the committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and submitted to the Ministry. NDMA and the Government of India will also extend necessary financial assistance to support the state’s resource needs in this regard.