MYAGDI, 29 March, 2021 (TON): More than 400 forest fires have been reported across the country; meanwhile, Myagdi wildfires have been raging in over two dozen community and national forests, wildlife reserves, and conservation areas for the past few days, said the Division Forest Office.

Officials at the forest office say wildfires have gone out of control, despite the preventive measures,

The Division Forest Office in Myagdi has allocated more than Rs. 1 million budget for wildfire control and prevention, as it does every year.

Thamsara Pun, chairperson of Dhaulagiri Rural Municipality said, “Wildfires have been raging in almost all hills (forest areas) now. The rural municipality has been making efforts to control wildfires but we haven’t been able to do much.”

“Local residents themselves make bonfires in villages to generate new sprouts but are not careful about it. Poachers too are to blame for the wildfires. They start a fire in forests to trap wildlife in the highlands,” Pun said.

Santosh Khanal, acting division forest officer said, “Fire incidents are low in community forests as of now. But the national forest is at risk.”

“Fire incidents are low in community forests as of now. But the national forest is at risk,” said Santosh Khanal, acting division forest officer.

“The Division Forest Office has been organizing various programs to prevent and control wildfires. But such programs have not been implemented successfully,” said Khanal.

However, despite the efforts in fulfilling the preventive measures for the cause, Human settlements in Dhaulagiri and Malika rural municipalities have been greatly affected since wildfires in nearby forests are inching closer by the day, the reports said.