Dehradun: Chief Secretary Radha Raturi announced on Monday that Uttarakhand would take stringent action against individuals responsible for setting fires in the forests. She stated that those repeatedly setting fire would be charged under the Gangster Act and would also be liable for compensating the losses caused by the fire.

Chief Secretary Raturi informed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been deployed in Pauri and Almora districts to extinguish the forest fires. Following a meeting of officials convened at the Secretariat to address forest fire incidents, an action plan has been devised to control such fires in the state.

The state aims to control the fires within a week with the cooperation of all departments. It has been decided to take strict action against individuals responsible for setting fires. Chief Secretary Raturi outlined that such individuals would first face action under the Forest Protection Act, followed by the Wildlife Act. Moreover, those repeatedly setting fires would be charged under the Gangster Act, and their property would be confiscated. Forest officers have been instructed accordingly.

Responding to queries about the five deaths reported in the state due to the fires, Chief Secretary Raturi stated that investigations were ongoing, and strict action would be taken against the culprits. She assured that those responsible for setting fires were being arrested and incarcerated as part of the state's efforts to tackle the issue.

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