Surveillance, plantation, awareness: How Bharmour forest division plans to defeat its main ‘enemy’

BHARMOUR: In the wake of a recent forest fire incident in Bharmour’s Shimra beat, where miscreants set fire to the forest, the Forest Department has taken swift action to curb such incidents in the future.
According to Nawanath Mane, the Divisional Forest Officer of Bharmour, three ranges — Tretha, Bharmour, and Sawai — will be equipped with 12 surveillance cameras.

Additionally, a drone will be deployed to monitor the situation, keep an eye on miscreants and track illegal activities in the forest.
“This technological setup aims to enhance real-time monitoring, ensuring the early detection of fire and any suspicious activity in these sensitive areas,” said Mane.

Awareness campaign in schools

To engage the community and promote forest conservation, the Forest Department has announced the initiation of awareness camps for students in Bharmour.

Starting from May 1, these camps will be held on the first Saturday of each month in local schools. The purpose of these camps is to educate young people about the importance of preserving forest resources, the dangers of fire and how they can contribute to conservation efforts.

“The department plans to involve forest staff who will provide invaluable tips on forest protection to the students, empowering the younger generation to spread awareness within their communities,” said Mane.

Large-scale afforestation project on cards

As part of the Rajiv Gandhi Forest Conservation Scheme, the Forest Department will begin a large-scale afforestation project.
Under this initiative, 1,100 hectares of land will be dedicated to planting fruit-bearing trees such as Kanth, Chooli, Dadu, Ailampash, Akhrot and other local species.

These efforts are aimed at restoring the ecological balance while providing sustainable livelihoods to local communities.
The department reported that the fires in the Bharmour range resulted in significant damage in the financial year 2024-25, with an estimated loss of 4,019.95 hectares of forest cover, causing a financial setback of approximately Rs 1.1 crore.

The authorities have pledged to take strict action against those responsible for the fire, ensuring that any perpetrators will face severe legal consequences.

Mahinder Patyal