**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3466, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed the prevention of forest fires in India. A study, titled "Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India," was conducted in 2018 in collaboration with the World Bank. The report analyzed forest fire patterns and trends, and assessed relevant policies at national, state, and local levels. It provided recommendations across five key themes: Policy, Institutions and Capacity, Community Engagement, Technology, and Data and Information. These recommendations informed the development of the National Action Plan on Forest Fire (2018).
The National Action Plan on Forest Fire (2018) outlines comprehensive measures for forest fire prevention and improving forest resilience. State Governments and Union Territory Administrations develop State Action Plans aligned with the national plan. The Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun, monitors forest fires using MODIS and SNPP-VIIRS satellite-mounted sensors. The FSI provides pre-fire alerts one week in advance, large forest fire alerts, and near real-time alerts to registered subscribers and state forest department officials.
In coordination with the National Disaster Management Authority and the National Disaster Response Force, the Ministry has trained three teams of 150 personnel to manage large forest fires. Financial assistance is provided to States and Union Territories through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme Forest Fire Prevention and Management and CAMPA funds to support forest fire management efforts.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and forestry.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ: Member of Lok Sabha who posed the question regarding forest fires.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change who provided the answer.
World Bank: An international financial institution that collaborated with the Ministry on a study of forest fires.
Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India: The title of the study report released in 2018, analyzing forest fire patterns and trends in India.
National Action Plan on Forest Fire 2018: A comprehensive plan by the Ministry to prevent forest fires and improve forest resilience.
Forest Survey of India FSI, Dehradun, Uttarakhand: Organization responsible for detecting forest fires using satellite-mounted sensors and providing fire alerts.
OIH
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3466
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Prevention of Forest Fire
3466. DR. RAJEEV BHARADWAJ:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has conducted any study regarding forest fire during 2017-
18 with the assistance of the World Bank;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the details of new techniques being followed to prevent and control forest fire?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) and (b) The Ministry in collaboration with the World Bank conducted a study on
Situation Analysis of Forest Fire and released a study report titled
“Strengthening Forest Fire Management in India” in 2018. The report analysed
patterns and trends of forest fires in India and discussed policies on forest fire
prevention and management at the national, state and local levels. The report
provided detailed recommendations on five broad themes (Policy, Institutions
and Capacity, Community Engagement, Technology, and Data and
Information) and critical inputs for the preparation of a National Action Plan
on Forest Fire in India by the Ministry.
(c) The Ministry has put in place the National Action Plan on Forest Fire-2018,
which provides comprehensive measures to prevent forest fires and to improve
the resilience of the forests against fire hazards. The State Governments/Union
Territory Administrations also prepare State Action Plans in tandem with the
National Action Plan to undertake State/ Union Territory-specific measures
towards forest fire prevention and management.
The forest fire incidences in the country are detected by the Forest Survey of
India (FSI), Dehradun, using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer
(MODIS) & Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership Visible Infrared
Imaging Radiometer Suite (SNPP-VIIRS) satellite-mounted sensors.
The Ministry, through the Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun providesPre-Fire Alerts (one-week in advance), Large Forest Fire Alerts and Near Real
Time Forest Fire Alerts to the registered subscribers and State Forest
department officials to deal with forest fires.
The Ministry in coordination with the National Disaster Management
Authority and the National Disaster Response Force have trained three teams
consisting of 150 personnel to tackle Large Forest Fires. These teams are
deployed as per the requirements to control forest fires.
The Ministry provides financial assistance to the States and Union Territories
under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – Forest Fire Prevention and
Management and CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management
and Planning Authority) funds to deal with forest fires.
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