As forest fires continue to escalate in Uttarakhand’s mountainous regions, the state government is gearing up to launch a reward program to boost public involvement in fire prevention. Exceptional individuals and teams engaged in combating and averting forest fires could receive cash prizes of up to Rs 1 lakh. The initiative was unveiled during a press conference by the Uttarakhand Forest Department, where Chief Conservator of Forests Sushant Patnaik outlined the ‘Forest Fire Control and Management 2026’ strategy.
Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal and Forest Department Head Ranjan Mishra were also present at the briefing. Patnaik highlighted the surge in forest fire incidents in Uttarakhand, attributing it to factors like global warming, extended dry periods, erratic monsoon cycles, and phenomena such as El Nino. The India Meteorological Department has forecasted a further spike in temperatures and dry conditions, heightening the risk of more forest fires in the upcoming days.
“Amidst the continuously rising incidents of forest fires in Uttarakhand, the state government will soon submit a proposal to introduce a reward scheme for those who help protect forests from fire. Teams and individuals who perform exceptional work in extinguishing and preventing forest fires will be awarded prizes of up to Rs 1 lakh. Additionally, prizes worth Rs 75,000 and Rs 51,000 have also been designated,” Patnaik said. The data presented during the conference revealed that over the last decade, Uttarakhand witnessed 14,638 forest fire incidents affecting nearly 23,682.77 hectares of forest land.
