MUMBAI: More than 5,100 forest fire incidents were reported across Maharashtra during 2023-24, affecting 11,580.707 hectares of forest land, Forest Minister Ganesh Naik informed the legislative assembly on Thursday.
He was responding to questions raised by MLAs, including Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Bhaskar Jadhav, Shiv Sena member Nilesh Rane and BJP's Prashant Thakur, over forest fires.
“In 2023-24, a total of 5,117 cases of fire took place affecting 11,580.707 hectares of forest land,” Naik said in a written reply.
The minister also said 7,042 cases of forest fires were reported in Gadchiroli district alone.
In another written reply to a question by Rane, he said that more than 3.5 lakh trees had been felled illegally in forest areas across the state over the last five years.
Of these, around 1.24 lakh were teak trees, but the illegal felling caused a financial loss of nearly Rs 30 crore to the state, he added.
In his response to a question by Thakur on incidents of fires in agricultural fields and forest areas in the Konkan region, Naik said the government has been using artificial intelligence-based systems to curb such episodes.
“The government is relying on technology, including AI-based systems, to improve monitoring, detection and awareness efforts. We will also examine whether existing rules need to be strengthened for better protection of forest resources,” the minister said.
Naik said incidents of fires are reported from districts including Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg.
Many such cases occur because some farmers continue to believe that burning dry leaves, crop residue and other organic matter improves soil fertility, he said.
However, studies have shown that repeated burning damages soil quality and reduces its natural fertility, the minister said, adding that the government has been conducting awareness campaigns in villages to discourage the practice and promote natural composting methods.
Naik said preventing fires requires coordinated efforts by multiple government departments and local bodies and is not the responsibility of the Forest Department alone.
Referring to recent incidents, he said cases have been registered wherever necessary and investigations are underway. Strict action would be taken against those found responsible, he added.
During the discussion, Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav called for amendments to existing laws to enable stricter action against those deliberately damaging forests. He suggested that landowners be made responsible for protecting tree cover and forest resources on their land and sought legal provisions for fixing accountability in cases of intentional destruction.
Several legislators also raised concerns over fires in forest areas and other vulnerable locations and sought stronger preventive measures and accountability mechanisms.
Naik said the government would examine the suggestions made by members and study whether existing legal provisions need strengthening to enhance the protection of forest resources