By: Asif Awan
Abbottabad Addressing a meeting chaired by Commissioner Hazara Fayyaz Ali Shah regarding timely control of forest fires, he told all the officers that it is our common responsibility to maintain and protect the forests and to deal with those who damage the forests with iron hands. In the meeting, Chief Conservator Forest Northern Forest Region II, Abbottabad gave a detailed briefing to the participants and further informed that all the Deputy Commissioners have already implemented Section 144 for three months. Commissioner Hazara, while issuing instructions to the Forest Officer, said that they should check all the fire extinguishing equipment they have whether they are in good condition or not and in this regard, a mock exercise should be conducted in all the districts of Hazara in which all the concerned departments are represented and an area development plan should be prepared within two days and shared with all the Deputy Commissioners. Further, for this purpose, people should be informed about this in mosques in collaboration with the preachers of mosques. Commissioner Hazara said that regular NOC should be obtained for the ongoing construction activities in Galiyat because trees are being cut down but alternative plantation is not being done due to which there is an environmental impact even in a place like Galiyat. Commissioner Hazara directed all the DFOs of the district to go to the field and update their forest related records.
Commissioner Hazara directed all the Deputy Commissioners to form a committee headed by the Assistant Commissioner in collaboration with the Forest Officer, which should include representatives of all the concerned departments, especially influential people of the concerned villages, local volunteers, village council secretaries, patwaris, health staff, Rescue 1122, and create a WhatsApp group and share it with all the concerned departments. Similarly, the Chief Conservator of Forests, Northern Forest Region, Conservators Forest Hazara. I & II should create a control room in their office and share all the numbers with all the WhatsApp offices. Commissioner Hazara directed to take immediate action against those who set fire to the forests and cause any kind of damage and said that whoever is involved in this should be brought to justice. At the end of the meeting, Commissioner Hazara asked all the district officers to hold a general meeting and finalize all the arrangements. The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner Abbottabad, Kolai Palace and Kohistan Upper, Chief Conservator Forest Northern Forest Region, Conservator Forest Hazara. I & I and Regional Municipal Officer Hazara Region, along with all the officers through video link.
