Inaugurating the 'Fire Prevention Week' in Aizawl, Lal Thanhawla said that proper instructions should be given to farmers (jhummias) to take care during torching of slashed trees and bamboo for jhum cultivation.
"We destroyed more forest areas than other north eastern states," he said, adding that according to the report of Forest Survey, fire destroyed 980 square km annually in the state.
The state government instructed all the farmers across the state to burn their jhums not later than March 15.