In order to create mass awareness on fire safety and environment conservation, the office of the Range Forest Officer, Social Forestry and Territorial Range, Mairang, today organised a sensitisation programme on the topic in Markasa, Eastern West Khasi Hills.
Those who attended included the Range Forest Officer of Mairang, BM Kharkongor, officials of the Fire and Emergency Services, traditional heads and local people.
During the awareness programme, participating officials expressed concern over incidents of forest fires in the district and across the state, particularly during the dry season, which have the potential to cause extensive damage to the environment and human habitations.
Calling on those present at the programme to desist from rampant felling of trees for the purpose of charcoal production, the officials encouraged the gathering to assume upon themselves the responsibility of protecting the environment by adopting sustainable methods of earning their livelihood and to work in tandem with the Forest Department in its environment conservation measures, which include afforestation programmes.
