New Delhi, Dec 8: The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has said Jammu and Kashmir is one of the major hotspots of forest fires with the region losing over 438 square Kilometers of land to blazes between November 2023 and June 2024.
The data placed before the Lok Sabha by the Ministry said that satellite-based monitoring by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) indicates significant forest fire impact in several Indian states, including J&K.
The burnt area assessment for November 2023 to June 2024 shows that it has damaged over 438 Sq Km in J&K—thus placing it among the affected hill regions where dry conditions and rising temperatures continue to fuel vulnerability to wildfires.
The Ministry further said that the forest protection is primarily the responsibility of State and UT administrations, but the FSI provides pre-fire alerts, real-time alerts and large fire alerts to help local authorities respond swiftly.
It added that a nationwide real-time remote-sensing and alert system is operational for all States and UTs, including in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The system issues continuous satellite-based updates to forest departments for monitoring, mitigation and post-fire assessment.
The ministry further stated that financial support under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Forest Fire Prevention and Management (CSS-FFPM) is being provided continuously to the States and UTs.
For the past five years, financial assistance under CSS-FFPM has ranged between Rs 28 crore to Rs 39 crore annually, the Ministry informed Parliament.
The ministry also informed that the UT of Ladakh has not recorded any burnt forest area during the assessed season, officials say the region remains under continuous monitoring due to its fragile ecosystem and changing climate patterns. (KNO)
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