Govt issues SOP for forest fire season
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 06 2026:
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and HoFF, Forest Department, Manipur has issued a Standard Operating Procedure for the forest fire season.
An office memorandum issued by the Department noted that forest fires continue to inflict colossal damage to ecosystems, plantations, wildlife and watersheds due to unregulated jhum burning, poorly managed fire lines and deliberate setting of fires for hunting or grazing, likely to aggravate due to rainfall shortage and El-Nino impact.
The mandatory directives include immediate activation of Village Forest Fire Committees (VFFCs) with village authorities and JFMCs, intensive awareness campaigns using PA systems in fringe villages, 100 percent registration of frontline staff and volunteers on FSI Van Agni Geo-portal for real-time SMS alerts, and establishment of temporary fire watching camps in vulnerable blocks.
Other measures are display of 24/7 emergency contact numbers, audit of firefighting equipment within seven days, formation of multi-tier rapid response squads, strict legal action including FIRs under Forest Act, Wildlife Act and BNS, preparation of fuel load and susceptibility maps, and regular mock drills with SDRF and Fire Department.
The Department cautioned that any dereliction of duty or negligence will invite disciplinary action.




