Nagaland: Minister conducts aerially survey of forest fire areas

Dimapur, March 11 (EMN): Minister of Environment, Forest and Climatic Change, YM Yollow on March 10 undertook aerial survey of forest fire which broke out within Singphan Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) in Mon district.

The forest fire was reportedly caused by jhum burning in the neighbouring area of the WLS and has been spreading since the first week of March 2022. The affected area was estimated to cover more than two square kilometre in different patches inside the WLS, an update from DFO Mon stated.

After the aerial survey, Yollow has assured all possible government support for containing the forest fires within Singphan WLS. He also directed the Mon district administration to extend all assistance to the department.

On same day, three different teams consisting of around 163 personnel including 40 personnel from Indian Reserve Battalions (IRB), 20 personnel from Nagaland Armed Police (NAP), 26 Village Guards from Upper Tire, 30 personnel from Lower Tire including 20 Village Guards, 15 personnel from State Disaster Response Force, 6 police personnel from Naginimora and around 26 forest staff from Singphan WLS and Mon Forest Division initiated the process of creating fire line around the fire-spot areas in order to contain the spread of the forest fire.

After the intervention, there is no active fire within the WLS and the forest fire is now contained, according to Tokaho, who is leading the operations at the ground. Report also stated that villagers and forest staff are camping inside Singphan WLS since March 10 to keep a watch over the situation for future course of action.    

The minister was accompanied by Dharmendra Prakash, PCCF and HoFF; Wangshi Jamir, assistant manager of Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority from Kohima; Tokaho Kinimi, Wildlife Warden of Dimapur and in-charge of Singphan WLS; and Rajesh Kumar, DFO Mon.