Jan 2: A year after 12,000 acres of forests in Bandipur went up in smoke, the Karnataka Forest Department is gearing up for the summer even as the Forest Survey of India (FSI) has cautioned that 22.78 lakh acres (9,222 sq km) or about 20% of the green cover spread across three districts in the central part of the state is fire-prone.
The FSI studied forest fire incidents across the country between 2004-05 and 2017 before coming up with state-specific inputs.
According to the 13-year observation, Karnataka has 7,352 “fire points” or areas measuring 5 km X 5 km with frequent fire incidents.
Though the number is lower compared to states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha with over 20,000 points, the sheer spread of the fire-prone area itself is a challenge for the Karnataka Forest Department.
According to data, about three lakh acres (1,199.9 sq km) of forest area is very highly fire prone with 26 to 52 fire incidents in 13 years. This is followed by 7.6 lakh acres (3,067 sq km) of “highly fire prone” areas with an average of one to two incidents every year.
Almost all of the “red alert” areas are concentrated in Uttara Kannada, Chikkmagaluru, Shivamogga and Chamarajanagar districts. As temperature rises at the end of January, so does the risk of forest fires, requiring officials to be on vigil till the end of summer.
After an investigation into the Bandipur blaze revealed that faulty fire lines and poor supervision were the reason for the spread of the fire, the department has come up with a multi-pronged approach to prevent similar incidents this year.
“After the Bandipur incident, we have created a fire cell and a standard operating procedure (SOP) which everyone has to follow. Firstly, a fire management plan is prepared and approved by a competent authority.
The SOP has well defined firelines which have to be executed by December-end and burning must be completed by January 15,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Force) Punati Sridhar told DH.
He said that to ensure its strict implementation, GPS readings of firelines are to be submitted for random verification.
“All the required equipment from fire jackets to shoes, gloves, backpack sprayers and tractors mounted with 2,000-5,000 litre tanks with high pressure pumps will be deployed at vantage points,” he said.
In addition, the department’s fire cell works in collaboration with the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre (KSRSAC) to give fire alerts within half and hour of an area catching fire and detected by satellites.
“Earlier, the gap used to be four hours by when the fire would have spread beyond control. Now, with reduced time gap, it would be easier to control fire early,” he added.
Comments
Dear Sameer,
What can i say, if a Bat hung upside down and laughs at the topsy turvy world. The Bat is also right in its point of view.
I do not benefit from what others have to believe.
So let him follow what he feels right.
Dear Suresh, Its not matter of brilliant or stupid Mr. Kiran Kumar has logically explained the fact and reality, which being hindu I do 100% agree.
Sameer,
Regarding Kiran kumar's comments, i can only say \If we all were so brilliant like him, then today everyone of us would have been Scientist \"
one of his point I agree, real religion is Humanity, love and compassion towards fellow being and all living being on earth.
God is great.. Jai shri Ram, Jai shri krishna,"
Suresh, what you say about Mr. Kiran Kumar comment!!!
Wake up man!!!
Dear Ahmed Ali K.
Yes just by looking at the story isn't it true that at a point of time even you felt that Narada is more powerful than Lord Vishnu himself. This greatness Lord vishnu.
God will never want his devotees, his saints, to be humbled or humiliated, insulted at anytime.
Its is Lord vishnus way of telling we people what is the importance the value, dignity of a revered saint, devotee, guru in his eyes.
The story of how Lord vishnu disguises himself for his devotees
for Sena barber, Lord vishu/hari takes form of Barber and cuts hair of the Sultan.
for Bhakta Kumbhar, Lord hari comes down as a servant and does all pottery work.
for Bhaka Sakubhai, Lord vishnu comes down as daughter-in-law and does all household work and take care of her in-laws till she returns from pilgrimage from Pandarpur.
For Saint Namdev, he comes down to eat prasad at the famous Pandarpur vithala temple.
And the List is endless.
There are more knowledgeable people than me who can explain better.
Jai shri Krishna, Jai Sri Ram.
@Irfan - As of now there are many many good peoples like you living on earth. He will certainly come, when there is not a single good person like you left on earth, then god will manifest himself in some form.
Hope you got it. Jai shri Ram.
Oyee Naren you should look at this now.... This is funny really! Where are you guys why no protest now??
Ramayana, Mahabharata both were frictions/scripts like movie stories written by normal human being Valkimi & Vyasa. Unfortunate that we blindly believe/follow such frictions and ignore the real religion that is called Humanity!!
In reality there is only one super power that's called GOD, who is controlling this entire universe!!
@ Suresh,
present scenario Adharma is increasing why your God is not coming in any form, he is tired or in deep sleep.
Hey Ram, Kya kaliyug agaya !
Dear Suresh
For Clarification only
If Vishnu is a \LORD\" and how can Narada curse a lord?
In this cases Narada is powerful and he should be given higher position"
'He does not have a material form'(na tasya pratima asti).He is transcendental.However matter too comes from God. It is God's energy/potency. He being all powerful can choose to manifest Himself in a material form. That is called a deity not idol. Hence it is deity worship not idol worship. Also idol is a imaginary form, however the material image created is based on detailed description of Sri Krsna. Therefore it is not imaginary.
Islam is not revealed scripture. It provides no clear conception of God. It has created an imaginary personality called Satan and yet blame others for 'idolatry'!!
Dear SURESH,
Ekam evadvitiyam - He is ONE only without a Second.(Chandogya Upanishad 6:2:1)1
Na Casya Kasc ij Janita na Cadhipah - Of him there are neither parents nor Lord. (Svetasvatar Upanishad 6:9)2
What U are telling is stories made by some people who deviated U guys from the true one God..
How can U believe such ill made up Gods who are falling for curses & monkey... .Please use your god given intellectual. & identify what QURAN says about GOD and compare it with what U claim to be God.
Lord Vishnu's incarnation as Sri Rama, was becoz of curse of Narada.
When Narda once insisted Lord vishnu, what is \Maya\", then the next moment Narada was in Maya. He fell in love with beautiful princess whom he wished to marry. So Narada prayed to Lord vishnu that he get the face of \"HARI\" Lord vishnu's face and lord vishnu granted him the wish. But the other meaning of HARI is monkey. So narada got the face of Monkey. Thus Narada Cursed Lord Vishnu, that he may be born as Human being, undergo pain suffering of separations from wife and children. Thus lord Vishnu took 7th incarnation as Sri Rama and this was all pre destined. Infact the purpose of curse of narada was also pre destined. The whole purpose was to anihiliate the Demon King Ravana, and cleansing the earth of evils.
Nothing new. \"Whenever there is decline of dharma and increase of Adharma, then the lord manifest himself for protection of the pious, the destruction of the evil doers and establishing virtue. Thus the Lord manifest himself in every age in one form or the other.\"
Nothing new, people please stop -(being silly, talk silly and doing silly things around). Please read Ramayana, Chant Lord Rama's name and and be happy. In the end only this name will liberate your soul.
Jai Sri Ram."
Put rape and cheating case against Lord Krishna as he raped lot of Hindu girls...what a shame God
Dear Manohar,
Ur divine book also mentioned that GOD is one & Na tasya pratima asti...There is no image of God -
Then How come some people made the pious human being as GOD. as there is no image of God..
We request honestly to look & research your divine book & find the TRUTH behind worshiping the idols...
Suppose Ram found guilty, what type of punishment the Honarable Judge will deliver and how he will be punished??
For sure, He is not God
He was Born & He died same like WE people.. So he is a human just like us... People who are smart will know the reality behind such deception of making human god and collecting money... God doesnt need money... But God ask people to give money to the POOR and not himself..
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