India: Potato yield plummets in Dhanaulti

A government farm, called ’aloo khet’, used to provide potato seeds to as many as 142 villages around Dhanaulti area. But in 2006, it was sold to a private company (IGL). Locals had supported the move as they were promised jobs and "better" seeds. However, it did not turn out to be like that.

Devendra Singh Belwal, a local journalist and also a farmer, says it is a matter of survival for most farmers now. "Acres of land is lying waste in the ’aloo khet’. We are struggling to keep the lands of our forefathers green with crops," he said.

The government had pressed three Mi-17 helicopters to douse the flames even as National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force and Army personnel struggled to bring the fires under control.

Wing Commander V K Singh told TOI that the IAF did not receive any request from the administration to carry out sorties on Wednesday. "We are geared to tackle any situation but there were no requests by the administration on Wednesday. Our teams and three choppers are positioned at both the locations, Nainital and Pauri Garhwal," he said.

Singh has been camping in Nainital following the central government’s order to carry out operations in Uttarakhand. "We have carried out 100 sorties and 70 Bambi bucket operations in Pauri and Nainital. In these operations, we used 1.45 lakh litre to extinguish forest fires at 15 places that were close to the villages, said the officer.

Explaining the standard operating procedure adopted by IAF teams, Singh said, "The civil administration gives out coordinates of the places where forest fires are located and then our choppers water these areas."

Each Bambi bucket can carry 3,000 litres of water, which it then sprinkles within seven seconds at the affected place.

"The main priority of the sorties are places that are inaccessible and burning intensely. After getting the coordinates, each chopper flies over the spot and from a distance of 30 to 50 meter empties the Bambi bucket," said Singh.

The IAF team will stay put at both these locations until things are brought under complete control. Asked about fuel arrangements for the helicopters, Singh said, "We had planned our logistics before flying to these locations. The tankers from IAF and army have been supplying fuel for the three choppers."