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Uttarakhand Fights Forest Fires with Rs 5.4 Cr Pine Needle Buy & Insurance for Watchers

The Uttarakhand government has purchased over 5,500 tonnes of pine needles from villagers at a cost of Rs 5.42 crore in a year to remove a major fire hazard. Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal announced the initiative in the assembly, revealing an increased target for the coming period. The state is also running extensive awareness camps and has formed village-level Forest Fire Management Committees. In a key welfare move, the government has provided a Rs 10 lakh group insurance cover for the safety of thousands of fire watchers.

Key Points: Uttarakhand's Rs 5.4 Cr Pine Needle Buy to Curb Forest Fires

  • Rs 5.42 cr pine needle purchase from villagers
  • 1,239 awareness camps organized
  • Forest Fire Management Committees formed with Gram Pradhans
  • Rs 10 lakh group insurance for fire watchers
  • Target increased to 8,555 tonnes of pine needles
2 min read

Uttarakhand boosts forest fire prevention with pine needle collection, awareness camps, and fire watcher support

Uttarakhand govt buys pine needles from villagers, holds awareness camps, and provides insurance to fire watchers to prevent forest fires under CM Dhami's directives.

"5,532 tonnes of pine needles were purchased from villagers in 2025 - Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal"

Gairsain, March 10

As per the Efforts initiated under the directions of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to prevent forest fires in the state are expected to yield meaningful results. Through the Forest Department, the government has purchased pine needles worth RS 5 crore 42 lakh from villagers within a year.

During the Question Hour on the second day of the Budget Session in the Assembly today, Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal shared that to eliminate the root cause of fires in pine forests, 5,532 tonnes of pine needles were purchased from villagers in 2025. The target has now been increased to 8,555 tonnes. The government's objective is to collect pine needles so that the chances of forest fires can be reduced to a minimum.

To prevent forest fires, the Uttarakhand government is also focusing on public awareness. Under the directions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, 1,239 awareness camps have been organised.

One of the most significant steps taken by the government is the formation of Forest Fire Management Committees under the chairmanship of village heads (Gram Pradhans). These committees are working alongside the department to protect forests. Each concerned Gram Panchayat is also being provided an incentive amount of Rs 30,000 for this initiative.

Fire watchers play a crucial role during forest fire incidents. For their safety, the government has, for the first time, provided insurance coverage. Fire watchers have been given a group insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh. Last year, 5,600 fire watchers contributed to efforts to prevent forest fires.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good steps, but the real test will be implementation on the ground. We hear about plans every year before summer, but fires still rage. Hope the committees at village level are active and not just on paper. The Rs. 30,000 incentive per panchayat seems low for such a huge task?
R
Rohit P
As someone from Uttarakhand, I've seen the devastation firsthand. Pine needles are like fuel. If collecting them creates jobs and saves our forests, it's a win-win. Jai Uttarakhand! ❤️ The awareness camps are crucial—many fires start from careless picnickers.
S
Sarah B
Interesting approach. What happens to all the collected pine needles? Are they being used for biomass energy or composting? Turning a problem into a resource is smart policy. The community-based committees sound like a good way to ensure local ownership.
V
Vikram M
Finally some concrete action! The financial numbers are promising—over 5 crores to villagers and insurance for watchers. Hope the procurement is transparent and benefits reach the actual collectors. The increased target shows commitment. Let's protect our Devbhoomi.
K
Kavya N
A respectful suggestion: While committees and camps are good, we also need better early warning systems using technology like satellites and drones. Relying only on human watchers is risky. Combining traditional knowledge with modern tech is the way forward.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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