Uttarakhand: Man fined for starting forest fire in Bageshwar

DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand forest department has imposed a fine of Rs 10,500 on a person for setting fire to a forest in Bageshwar. The fire spread throughout the area thereby, damaging 75 hectares of forest land. Rajpal Chaudhary, a resident of UP's Bijnor, who lives in a hut in the forest of Bilkhet, carries wood of the forest corporation with the help of mules.
On Saturday evening, Rajpal lit a fire near the hut and fell asleep. The accused, who is also a forest corporation worker, was later released on a personal bond. Forest officer Shyam Singh Karaat, on Sunday, said that if anyone is caught setting fire to the forest, action will be taken against him/her as per rules and fine will be imposed.