Photograph of forest fire at Kui "panchayet" in Dhar block taken on 30th May 2013

The causes of forest fire in Dhar block
Who is responsible?

Dhar block was once a remarkable place for sylvan beauty and virgin woodlands supporting many species of flora and fauna.
Villages nestling in the woods once coexisted with the forest life and the area was largely spared the pressures of urbanization. This situation has changed indeed now.
The change in the value system in negative aspects and the money making potential of the land has created a situation that is destroying the wood lands of this area in a steady manner.
Illegal forest clearing has become quite common and land is being cleared of the woods with the intention of selling it to "promoters".
The easiest way to do this is to start forest fires. Forest fires are caused due to several reasons such as negligence by forest department officials and by careless locals.
On the main road, inconsiderate tourists also cause fires by throwing lighted cigarette butts and bidi ends, but this is not so common.
Burning of dry hay on the agricultural fields is generally controlled and forest fires are not caused by such cultivation activities usually.
Intentional land clearing and the attempt to destroy the evidence of mass illegal tree felling are the chief causes of forest fire here.
Forests are lungs of this planet and protect the earth in multiple ways that help to maintain the balance of nature.
When this balance fails, natural calamities such as global warming occurs and the entire ecosystem is threatened.
The forests of Dhar supports many species of flora and fauna unique to this sub-mountainous area. When fire breaks out in the forests the entire bio-system of the area suffers immensely.
The shrinking woodlands don’t seem to worry the locals who are only interested in the money making potential of the land and have no love or consideration for the beauty of the wood lands and the wild life here.
Many species are being wiped out as their living area is disappearing and their existence have become really difficult due to the disruption of the eco system.
The concerned forest officials are much more interested in their personal benefits than in their duty to preserve the wood lands. When the habitat of the wild life is destroyed the officials don’t care as they have no love for nature.
The villagers understand immediate monetary gain in personal way only and think that greed propelled unscrupulous actions are normal.
Greed has become the primary motivating factor and this attitude has setup a narrow minded corrupt system. They are willing to destroy the bio system to fill their pockets.
Values of modern consumerism introduced by commercial advertisements have fuelled this greed. It is widely known that forest fires are the easiest ways to cover up traces of illegal tree felling.
So these fires are often used to aid unethical and illegal activities. No proper statistics are taken by the forest department but our photographic record taken from 1983 to 2013 show how the forest have shrunk down in this area. No proper periodical survey has been made by the concerned department in this matter as the officials of the forest department don’t seem to be motivated.
In such a situation the future of the wood lands in Dhar block is bleak indeed. Even this year 2013 fires had been caused here by people who want to clear out areas of the wood lands here.
Only way to save the wood lands here is to spread the consciousness about the need to preserve the ecology of the area by nurturing the wood lands and that prompts me to write this essay. I think it is my duty to inform the world about this matter.

Prabal Pramanik’s Academy of Arts and Uday Memorial Public School, Dunera jointly celebrated the world environment day in the school premises at Dunera.
Twentytwo photographs showing environment pollution causing situations such as arbitrary and unhealthy garbage dumping, piling up non biodegradable waste, forest fires and the burnt out forest area were displayed by Prabal Pramanik’s Academy of Arts at the school.
The photographs were taken by Mr. Arup Chandra who explained the photographs to the school pupils who attended the exposition.
Many of the students of Uday Memorial Public School had drawn pictures on the subject of environmental pollution and a seminar was held at the school on this globally sensitive subject.
Mr. Suresh Pathania, the manager of Uday Memorial Public School, Madam Rita Pathania, the principal of Uday Memorial Public School, Ustad Kalakar Prabal Pramanik and several of the students of the school spoke about the need to promote consciousness about the need to preserve the ecology of this planet. Sunita, Bharti, Manisha and Sonal, all students of Uday Memorial Public School spoke intelligently about this subject.
The programme is an important step in spreading consciousness about the need of a cleaner and greener planet earth in this rural area.
Only by holding such programmes the younger generation can be motivated to value the need to minimize environmental pollution.