Forest-fire awareness at Samardung

RANGPO: The South district Forest Division organised a daylong awareness programme on forest fires here at Samardung on Thursday. The programme, supported by Lanco hydel project, was  attended by DFO (T), South, Monalisha Dash, Range Officer BS Tamang, Block Officer Bal Krishna Dahal along with several other forest official and staff, Panchayat members of the area, local residents, representatives from Lanco and Hindustan Construction Company, senior citizen TP Kharel.

The DFO, in her address, urged the area residents to extend full assistance to efforts aimed at controlling forest fires. Highlighting that most forest fires in Sikkim were manmade and not natural outbreaks, she stressed that people’s participation and awareness was the most important tool to contain forest fires.
She also conveyed a stern warning against those involved in illegal businesses in forest areas and stressed that no compromises would be allowed in this regard.
Responding to a demand placed earlier to develop the Samardung Tar as a picnic spot, the DFO said that if the Tourism Department initiated any such steps, the Forest Department would extend full support.
Also as part of the day’s function, fire-fighters presented a drill on combating forest fires.
Earlier, Dinesh Mishra, a Panchayat member from Maneydanda, requested the Forest Department to announce handsome prizes in cash or kind for local residents involved in efforts to check against forest fires.
Sanjeet Kharel, an active youth worker of the area, in turn requested the Department to release naturally felled trees to local residents at subsidised rates. [from SANJAY AGARWAL]