Which state government launched ‘Pirul Lao-Paise Pao’ campaign to contain the raging forest fires in the state?

Uttarakhand

The correct answer is option 3: Uttarakhand

The Uttarakhand government has launched the ‘Pirul Lao-Paise Pao’ campaign to contain the raging forest fires in the state.

Under the ‘Pirul Lao-Paise Pao’ campaign, local youth and villagers will collect dry Pirul (Pine tree leaves) from the forests and take them to designated Pirul collection centers. The Tehsildar, under the supervision of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, will manage these centers. The collected Pirul will be weighed, and the villagers or youth will be paid Rs 50 per kg, with the amount directly transferred to their bank accounts. The collected Pirul will be packed, processed, and sold to industries for further use.

In Uttarakhand, Pirul refers to Pine tree leaves, which have been traditionally used as bedding for domestic animals, as fertilizer when mixed with cow dung, and for packaging fruits. However, due to their excellent burning capacity, they pose a significant fire threat in Pine forests.