Telangana now gets dedicated number for forest fire alerts

Hyderabad: The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) R Sobha on Tuesday released a new dedicated helpline number 9803338666 on which information pertaining to forest fires can be reported. This is in addition to regular forest crime control toll free help number 18004255364 which also can be used by the public to provide any information […]

Hyderabad: The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) R Sobha on Tuesday released a new dedicated helpline number 9803338666 on which information pertaining to forest fires can be reported. This is in addition to regular forest crime control toll free help number 18004255364 which also can be used by the public to provide any information including complaints. Public can use either number to intimate any incident of fires and other forest offences at any time.

According to a press release here, the State level monitoring committee on forest fire prevention held in Aranya Bhavan discussed the modalities and preparedness of fire prevention for the 2020-21 fire season in the State. The committee also discussed the preparedness of field staff to tackle high and medium fire prone areas in the State for necessary action after receiving fire alerts from the Forest Survey of India.

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Since majority of fires occur from January onwards, the field staff was directed to be prepared to take timely fire-fighting measures, and to deploy quick response teams in vulnerable areas to ensure timely control of forest fire. All fire prevention activities like creation and maintenance of fire lines, removal of hazardous material, intensive patrolling by staff and base camp watchers involving local villagers are to be taken up on priority.

Publicity and awareness building for the field staff of all levels as well as local villagers especially shepherds will be undertaken in coming months. To facilitate involvement of all line departments including the Fire Department, the District Collectors are being requested to review the issue in the ensuing district forest protection meeting.

PCCF (CAMPA) Lokesh Jaiswal, APCCF (Vigilance) Swargam Srinivas, APCCF (Development and IT) M C Pargaien and all other officials participated in the Meeting.

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