The mock drill of the forest department came under question when while practicing to control the fire in the Bhingu forest under Ghumarvi forest range, the fire actually spread and engulfed the forest spread over an area of two bighas. According to the villagers, about 1000 pomegranate and teak plants were planted in this area under biodiversity conservation, most of which were destroyed in the fire.
The forest lovers of the village were taking care of the plants planted through JICA. Former head of JICA committee Rajesh Sharma, Joginder Singh, Sitaram, Ramesh Chandra and Manoj Kumar along with other villagers, alleged that this damage has happened due to the negligence of the department. This entire matter should be investigated. The villagers said that along with the forest department, teams of NDRF, Jal Shakti Department, Fire Department and other departments had participated in the mock drill.
During this, the newly appointed forest friends were being taught the technique of extinguishing fire in the forest. The department officials lit a fire for the mock drill, but during this time the fire spread and within no time the greenery in a two-bigha area turned to ashes.
Forest Range Officer Hansraj and Forest Section Officer Deshraj claimed that a one bigha area was set aside for the mock drill, where there were no trees. The officials claim that the mock drill was conducted as per the rules.
Taunting the government machinery, the villagers said that every year forests catch fire. Every time, lakhs of rupees are spent just by conducting mock drills, but no result comes out on the ground level. Now the villagers have demanded a high-level investigation of this entire matter from the state government.