Wildfires at 92 different places across Nepal, air pollution levels rise

KATHMANDU, April 14: There has been an increase in the incidents of wildfire in different parts of the country. According to the data of the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, there are now wildfires at 92 different places across the country.

Fires have spread in the forests of different parts of the Terai. More fires have spread in Chitwan, Parsa Pyuthan and other areas than elsewhere. Fire is also active in the forests of Terai, hilly and inner Madhesh districts.

According to the Moderate Resolution Imagining Spectroradiometer (MODIS) system of online fire alert of the Department of Forests, fire is raging in 15 places of Pyuthan, 14 places of Chitwan and 10 places of Parsa. Similarly, wildfires are active in seven places in Palpa, six in Dang and five in Gorkha.

Wildfires cause biological and environmental damage to wildlife, plants, vegetation, herbs and wood. However, due to the lack of sufficient budget, no effective initiative has been taken by the government and other agencies to control forest fires.

The problem remains because no agencies have emphasized on the use of scientific methods and technology and no one has taken the initiative to make the local residents responsible for fire prevention and control.

The federal government, provincial governments, local governments, parks, reserves, protected areas, local police administration, army, and forest groups are indifferent to controlling forest fires due to the lack of budget.

The forest fire control strategy that was formulated a decade ago is still in abeyance. Even now, no action plan has been made for the implementation of the strategy made in 2011.

According to the Department of Environment, it has been found that the level of air pollution has increased excessively in the Kathmandu Valley and the central and eastern parts of the country due to local sources of fire and pollution.

“It has also been found that pollution has increased excessively in the morning and evening. Due to the increasing level of pollution, our health will be negatively affected and especially children, the elderly, respiratory patients and heart patients are more affected. So, do not go out of the house as far as possible and all citizens are urged to take special precautions when going outdoors,” said the Department. The Department has requested the general public to join hands with the concerned agencies to control wildfires.