332/2025-2026

Lawngtlai, 9 January 2025: The Lawngtlai District Level Committee on Fire Prevention held a meeting today at the DC Conference Hall, Lawngtlai, under the chairmanship of Shri Donny Lalruatsanga.

While welcoming the members, the Chairman extended New Year greetings and emphasized the urgent need to strengthen preventive measures against forest fires. He pointed out that Lawngtlai District continues to record a high incidence of forest fires compared to other districts and called upon the Government, Village Councils (VCs), NGOs, and the general public to take renewed and collective responsibility.

The Chairman stated that immediate prohibitory orders related to forest fires would be issued and that strict action would be taken against violators. He also urged landowners to ensure that jhum fields are burnt strictly within the permitted period and in a controlled manner to prevent forest fires. He further appealed to all government departments, VCs, NGOs, churches, and the people of Lawngtlai District to make concerted efforts to prevent forest fires.

Several important resolutions were discussed and adopted during the meeting. Landowners were instructed to complete jhum burning before the government-stipulated deadline of 15th March. It was resolved that proper fire lines should be constructed in every village, with PD DRDO taking the lead role. Mock drills and awareness campaigns were to be intensified, and DIPRO was tasked with preparing flyers and short awareness videos. Through the DTO, awareness messages against unsafe smoking practices would be disseminated among drivers transporting passengers.BDOs were tasked to issue necessary advisories within their respective jurisdictions to prevent forest fires. It was also resolved that information mike announcements should be frequently used to raise public awareness, and Village Councils at village and ward levels would be requested to cooperate in this initiative. Awareness programmes for school children were also proposed, with the DEO, Lawngtlai, and the Education Department of LADC (Primary and Middle Schools) entrusted with the responsibility. Additionally, appeals for forest fire prevention would be circulated and displayed in churches.

All members of the Lawngtlai District Level Committee on Fire Prevention were present at the meeting. The Chairman concluded the meeting with a vote of thanks.