Express News Service
DEHRADUN: Questions are being raised by activists on the methodology used by the forest department to ascertain economic loss caused by forest fires in Uttarakhand.
Consider this: The damages in the ongoing fire season are pegged at Rs 42.56 lakh for 1529.28 hectares gutted in 1,116 incidents.
The average estimate of Rs 2,904 per hectare for compensation is too less, asserted activists.
“One hectare area amounts to 10000 square meters. How can losses in such a large area be calculated with an average of Rs 2,904? The method is faulty and outdated. This needs to change. This is not only injustice to the people of Uttarakhand but also to the country,” said Anoop Nautiyal from Social Development for Communities Foundation.