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.
Mangaluru, Mar 24: Two college students were arrested by the police in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada for allegedly posting pro-Pakistan slogans during T20 cricket match between India and Pakistan.
Comments
Shame on Indian police for registering this kind of cases as even they know this has no basis in constitution.
they supported a cricket or sports team... even I supported UAE Team..I have my right to support any sports team..
PLEASE SEND SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER TO PAKISTANN PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE
IF HINDHU SAY THAT IS NABOUR CONUTY
IF MUSLIM SAYS HE IS TERROR ACCHE DIN WHA WHA /.
Hope all have gone through below news about shouting slogan in favor of pakistan by Sri Sri ravi shankar ... why you people have not commented on that ....
Pakistan Zindabad....india belong to muslim they ruled for 1000 years, we will take back glory soon.
Mohan; Sharvan, Preethi, Meghana...
Please open your mind and dont fall trap over & over on cheddi media... if You try to accept whatever said in the media again & again even after knowing their LIES ... What should we call U guys...
Dont just make Howdu basava howdu ... for everything which is said in the media ...Use your God given intellectual and stop supporting the aggressor ... cos a day will come when the one who gave this life will account for our deeds done in this LIFE... So stop supporting the aggressor without true knowledge which U might regret later ... as many regretted after becoming voilence with a false statement from the cheddi leaders
Yes these students does not know about what they are talking.
They should be kept behind the bar.
By the way what happened to SRI SRI art of living Swamy who said Pakistan Zindabad??? is he arrested.??
Indians can support any country in any game but when any match is having indian team they should support only india.
@ MEHHNA , PREETHI ,SHARAVAN, MOHAN, KARTHIK ,,
YES WE NEED TO PUNISH THEM HARD , SEND THEM TO PAKISTAN.. EVERYTHING WE WILL DO WT U SAID
SRI SRI SRI RAVI SHANKER SHOULD GO TOGETHER WITH THEM, WE WIL BOOK 3 SEATS IN FLIGHT L
Constitution did not tell citizens to support only Indian team. There is no law saying that, then why on the hell police arrested those innocent people and under which law. In a democracy you have right to chose or support any one you want. Its not a big deal. Pakistan is not our enemy at all, Modiji without informing anyone met Nawaz Sharief, Pakistani PM. It happened because of our friendliness with that country.
I am a good supporter of our Indian team but it does not mean that I impose same on other fellow Indians too.
Grow up guys.
When SRI SRI Shankar said Pakistan Zindabad no action, no arrest,
when a muslim said he is arrested.
INCRIDIBLE INDIA ! WHERE SRI SRI CAN CALL PUBLIC MEETS ! STUDENT JUST TYPED IN WHATSAPP THEY ARE ARRESTED !!
WHEN IS SRI SRI ARREST ! ??????????????/////
if they raised slogans in favor of our arch rival, than take strict action against them. But Please don't touch Desh Bhakt like Ravi shanker !
Send Sri Ravishanker along with Two students from puttur to Pakisthan...Law should be equal for all.Do not bring religion in between.
there is no muslim commentors now ... these two terrorists must be kicked out of india along with their families ... soole maklige they want all benefits here and loyalty to pakistan ... no mercy for these animals .muslims here give big lecturer about religion , but they dont teach manners and basics for their community members .
Yes Mohan should send them pakistan with Ravi sankar...
DEAR PRO-CHADDIS.....
WILL YOU SEND ME SOUTH AFRICA AND ENGLAND IF I SUPPORT HASHIM AMLA AND MOEEN ALI?????
WHEN YOU WILL SEND SRI SRI RAVISHANKAR PAKISTAN FOR CHANTING PAKISTAN ZINDABAD???? WHY NO ACTION ON HIM????
serious action must be taken against them. india the country of peace loving and this type of people misunderstood us for being soft, one thing always should be on head that how much soft we are double to that we could be hard rock.
Pakistan zindabad is slogan of owaisi chaddis. not Bharath matha ki Jai
Now a days its common, need to give proper punishment next time they have to think hundred times before calling this.
both student must be sent to the pakistan, the two dogs of pakistan
me before india started batting: hahahaha we got this wtf pakistAN ZINDABAD
me now: we are brothers and sisters we both win in 1947.....
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