Regarding the Uttarakhand government's "Pirul Lao-Paise Pao" campaign, consider the following statements:

A) The campaign aims to mitigate forest fires by collecting inflammable Pirul leaves.

B) Participants receive Rs 50 per kg for the Pirul they collect.

C) The collected Pirul is used solely for landfill and disposal purposes.

Which of the statements above are correct?

Solution

Statement C is incorrect as the collected Pirul is used in industries, including electricity generation, not just for disposal. • The Uttarakhand government has initiated the "Pirul Lao-Paise Pao" campaign, led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, to address severe forest fires in the state. • The campaign encourages local youth and villagers to collect dry Pirul (Pine tree leaves), which are highly inflammable and a significant fire hazard, and bring them to designated collection centers. • Participants will be compensated Rs 50 per kg for collected Pirul, with payments made directly to their bank accounts. • Collected Pirul will be utilized in various industries, including a 25-kilowatt power plant in Chakori Dhanari village, which uses Pirul as a raw material to generate electricity. • This initiative not only aims to prevent forest fires but also to harness the estimated 23 lakh metric tonnes of Pirul produced annually in Uttarakhand for producing about 200 megawatts of electricity. • The Uttarakhand Pollution Control Board is tasked with overseeing this campaign, with a budget of Rs 50 crore allocated to support the initiative. • The campaign is considered critical due to the high flammability and slow decomposition of dry pine leaves, which pose a persistent fire threat in the pine-rich regions of Uttarakhand. • The state's forest coverage includes very dense forests, moderately dense forests, and open forests, making comprehensive management essential to mitigate fire risks and utilize natural resources effectively. Learn Along: About Uttarakhand Chief minister: Pushkar Singh Dhami                    Governor: Gurmit Singh                Capital: Dehradun