2,200 forest fires detected across the state.

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2,200 forest fires detected across the state.

     The state recorded 2,200 active fire points across the forests that include tiger sanctuaries and reserves,even though harsh summer is yet to set in.

   Forest department sources said the detection of more than 1,000 active fire points from the first week of March is significantly high and if it doesn't rain soon, the fire incidents will rise.In March and April,massive forest fires are reported from almost all forests as it is a man-made phenomenon for which pre-emptive measures are taken and awareness drive carried out.The witnessed 1.380 fire points out of which 93 per cent spots were accessed by the personnel to douse the flames, the department claimed.

    Debidatta Biswal, principal chief conservator of forests and head of forest force,said a spell of rain is enough to check the rapid spread of fire."If it doesn't rain anytime soon,we may have more infernos.But we have been able to attend to over 90 percent of the patches that are catching fire because of alertness and advance planning.Vulnerable mapping has been carried out in advance," Biswal said.

     The top forest officer said the state forest force is prepared to attend to the fire spots and douse them.At present, close to 3,000 personnel of 279 fire squads are engaged across the state,Biswal added, saying the current rate of blazing may peak in April.

     Last year, the forest department brought an innovation to indirectly check forest fire.The initiative is being implemented on a small scale now.The idea is to buy stubble from farmers to convert them into manure so that they are not burnt and subsequently nearby forest doesn't catch fire.

     The Similipal Tiger Reserve that earned a bad name in 2021 for unprecedented fire even in the core area,alone has identified 700 fire vulnerable points this year.It had held circle level meeting on forest fire prevention involving the five divisions of Rairangpur,Baripada,Karanjia, Similipal (north) and Similipal (South).

     This time,Similipal has also taken the help of self-help group and Van Surakshya Samiti(VSS) members in the flames and generating awareness.After the worst fire in 2021, authorities also involved students of schools, colleges and universities for a massive awareness drive in the reserve's periphery are as to check forest fire.