Maharashtra witnessed a drastic decrease in forest fire incidents in 2023 as compared to the previous four years, reveals the data shared by Forest Department in response to an application under Right to Information (RTI) Act filed by city-based activist Abhay Kolarkar. Among 15 circles in the State, Gadchiroli tops the chart with the highest 31,207 ha land destroyed by forest fires in five years from 2019 to 2023. Gadchiroli also witnessed the highest number of fire incidents that is 10,198 in five years. However, the highest property loss was recorded in Kolhapur circle with Rs 51.73 lakh in these five years. The seven circles of Vidarbha region -- Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Nagpur, Nagpur (Wild Life), Amravati, Yavatmal and Melghat -- witnessed destructino of the highest 77,800 ha land in forest fires between 2019 and 2023. Dhule (43.36 lakh), Nashik (42.11 lakh), and Thane (40.38 lakh) recorded highest amount of property losses along with Kolhapur in these five years. During this period, total 37,403 incidents of forest fires were reported. In these incidents, total 1,28,315 hectares of forest area was gutted and the department bear a loss of Rs 3.16 crore in five years, reveals the official data.

 

 

 

All seven circles in Vidarbha region put together reported 19,153 incidents in which 77,800 hectares of area was lost. The loss in Vidarbha region alone is 60.63 per cent of the total loss in State. In 2023, a total of 5,274 fire incidents happened in Maharashtra which was the lowest in the five years. Similarly, 12,921.60 hectares of land was ruined in fire in 2023, which was again lowest in five years. As lesser forest land was destroyed, the total losses were also were lower as compare to five years. “The fire incidents in Maharashtra forests takes place due to human interference. These incidents mainly takes place between February and April when the villagers enter forest area for collection of Tendu leaves and Mahua flowers,” Ajinkya Bhatkar, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Nagpur told The Hitavada. “Forest areas having tendu units are set on fire, in the belief that this gives better yield. Whereas, in Western Maharashtra, most of the fires are for collection of apta leaves,” said Bhatkar. Forest department taking many steps to stop fire incidents in forest areas. Regular patrolling by field staff, awareness among villagers, use of motor boats in rivers for controlling timber smuggling in bordering areas, cash rewards for informers etc. are some steps that the department adopted to stop fire incidents.