CHAPTER-II

PROTECTION OF RESERVED OR PROTECTED

FOREST FROM FIRE

 

[ (Sections 26 (1) (b) and 32 (f) ]

 

Prohibition of kindling, etc. of fire on roads or paths adjoining or passing through reserved or protected forests.

Clearing of forest, etc. by fire within half a mile of a reserved or protected   forests

 

3.  Except at such places as may from time to time be notified locally by the Divisional Forest Officer, no person shall  kindle any fire burning upon any public or private road or path which adjoins  or passes through a reserved or protected forest but  does not form part of such forest.

   

4.  A person desirous of clearing by fire any standing forest or grass land within half a mile of any reserved or protected forest shall observe the following rules:

    
   

(a) He shall give notice of his intention to burn at least one week before hand to the nearest local Forest Beat Office or the Forest Ranger Office under whose jurisdiction such land lies;

   
     

(b) He shall clear a fire-belt at least 30 ft. broad on that side of the area which he proposes to burn and which is nearest to the protected forest in such manner that no fire can spread across such belt.

    
      (c) He shall not burn when a high wind is blowing

 

    
    5.   Any person desirous of burning on land within half a mile of a reserved or a protected forest any wood, grass, weeds or other inflammable materials, shall collect such material into heaps and burn it heap by heap in such a manner that the resulting fire may not extend to the surrounding area or endanger the reserved or the protected forest.   Burning of wood, grass, etc. within half a mile of reserved or protected forest.
    6. Any person collecting inflammable forest produce such as grass and bamboos, and any holder of a permit to collect such produce from a reserved or protected forest shall stock it in an open space at such reasonable distance from the forest as the Divisional Forest officer may by general or special orders prescribe, and shall isolate the stocks in such manner as if they catch fire, the fire shall not be able to spread to the surrounding area or endanger the protected or the reserved forest.
 		   Mode of collecting inflammable forest produce.
    7. Camping places along the boundary of and within the limit of a protected or reserved forest shall be cleared and set apart by the Chief Conservator of Forests or the Forest officer in-charge , for the use of traveller. A list thereof being published annually, and except on such camping grounds no fires shall be lighted within or along the boundary of a protected or reserved forest. All persons using these camping grounds shall light any fire they make for cooking or other purpose in any buildings, sheds or other  property on the camping grounds, and before leaving they shall collect in the centre of the camping grounds all inflammable material which is to be left behind and shall carefully extinguish all fire.
 		   Camping place.
    8.  The carrying of burning wood, fire brands or torches along the boundary of any protected or reserved forest shall be prohibited between the 1st February and 31st May or such earlier or later date as may be notified by the Divisional Forest Officer under Section 26 (c) or 32 (f) of I.F. Act with the previous approval of the Chief Conservator of Forests. Smoking shall also be prohibited during the aforesaid period within the protected or reserved forest, save at authorized camping grounds.   Prohibition of carrying burning wood, etc. along the boundary of any protected or reserved forest.
Prohibition of setting fire to any reserved or protected forests.   9.  No person shall set fire to any part of a protected or reserved forest and no person shall set fire in the vicinity of a protected or reserved forest so as to cause damage to any timber lying therein or to any trees thereof declared as reserved.    
Intimation of the occurrence of fire to the nearest forest Office.   10.  It shall be the duty of every person exercising any right in a protected or reserved forest to intimate forthwith the occurrence of any fire in the forest or its vicinity within his knowledge to the nearest Forest Office and, whether or not so required by any forest Officer, to take steps:
 		    
       (i) to extinguish any such fire; and    
   

   (ii) to prevent by all lawful means in his power the   spread of any such fire in the vicinity of such forest in it.
 

    
Penalty.   11.  Whoever contravenes the aforesaid Rules shall be punishable with imprisonment for a a term which may extend  to six months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees or with both, in addition to, such compensation for damage done to the forest as the convicting court may direct  to be paid.