27 wards of Palpa are at high risk of fire

Tansen, March 21: Out of 10 municipalities of Palpa, seven municipalities are at high risk of forest fires. Tinau, Ribdikot, Tansen, Rainadevi Mathagadhi, Nisdi and Purvkhola in the district are at high risk, said Upendra Aryal, Forest Officer of Division Forest Office Palpa. According to him, 27 wards of seven local levels are at high risk of forest fires. Out of total 81 wards of the district, 33 percent are at high risk of fire.

According to the statistics of Division Forest Office, Palpa, the main cause of forest fires in the district is human. A week-long public awareness program is held every year from Chait 1 about the wildfires. This year, programs ranging from double song programs to fire control farces with national artists have been organized to raise public awareness. On Monday, at a large cultural program organized in Tansen, artists Chij Gurung and Asmita Dallakoti presented a public awareness song to prevent forest fires. In the financial year 2077-78, forest fell in 71 places in the district, in which one person died.

According to Forest Officer Aryal, even during heavy rains in 2078/79, forests fell in five places. He predicts an increase in the number of forest fires this year. There are more than 700 community forests in the district. There are more fires in these community forests. The district lacks both equipment and manpower for fire control. According to him, there is a fire station in Tansen municipality. There are no other nine local levels. Efforts are being made to control the fire only by using jet shooters, fire extinguishers and suits. Chief District Officer Bandhu Prasad Bastola said that the fire was being controlled by the deployment of all the three security agencies namely Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police.