Of the over 3.86 lakh fire alerts issued nationally by theForest Survey of India(FSI) based on satellite data, Maharashtra recorded 60,851 alerts, which comes to 16% of the totalforest fireincidents in the country this year.
As per FSI data, there were record number of fires between January and May as compared to the last two years. Most of these fires reported in April and May were man-made and ignited for mahua and tendu leaves collection.
As per rules, if forest fires occur in the area having tendu units then chief conservator (CCF) or deputy conservator (DyCF) is empowered to cancel these units, but despite so many incidents not a single tendu unit has been cancelled in the state. Take for example Bramhapuri division in Chandrapur circle, which reported 4,520 fire alerts, but there was no action against any field staff nor any tendu unit was cancelled.