SHIMLA: A satellite tracking system has been set up to check forest fires during summers in Himachal Pradesh, a state minister said today.
State Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmauri, while presiding over the review meeting of officials, said "a satellite tracking system has been set up to check forest fires during summers to save precious forest wealth."
Under the satellite tracking system, continuous vigil was being kept on the forests to ensure that the fire fighting staff reached the spot immediately on receiving information, he said.
Bharmauri said as of now, no major forest fire had been reported in the state though few incidents were reported from the forests of Kangra district where the flames were controlled within no time.
The Forest Minister said that awareness campaign was being launched throughout the state for protection of forest wealth from fire for which 693 participatory committees had been constituted.
A provision had also been kept to award the committees who excel themselves in creating awareness and controlling fires. He said Rs 24 lakh was given as award money to such 306 committees during the last fiscal.
Earlier, a sum of Rs 5,000 was given as award to these committees which now had been enhanced to Rs 10,000 per committee, he said, adding that 103 watch towers had been erected so that people could easily detect fire incidents.
The minister said that 86 water tanks had been constructed to extinguish the fire.