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
Madam, please remove the zero which you added by mistake.
one bachali is telling central investigation agency also working anthe ... papa enu madakke agalla .. madrasa training effect .. tale odedare naalku akshara iralla ivakke 4 illi , mele 72 reserve bere ... hahaha ... sadya mossad hesaru helalilla ... hoganna kabbadii adu hogu ... fish sales mugididre ... hahaha
Nobody can stop us from grabbing the power , we will show the mighty power when election is nearing it ... shobakka no need to reveal . it is done we will get 150 at any cost ... permanently we should send the khangrace to their home .. becoz jihadists are using it as cover .
Pokkade?
At least Start Master Bhagawat Programme to produce more than 10kids, get marry more than one, Shobakka why are you not Co operating with your Great leaders request, now you looks like 50's above can not produce more at least try your level best to do something for Master Bhagath's request do not Bark Fate of Kannadigas now!!!!!! we will see when battle starts, Till then you co ordinate your Criminal RSS Sabb.
Jai Hind.
Jai Hoo Modianna
Jai Hoo Siddanna.
keep dreaming everyday!!! utter loss this year.
shobakka, the central intelligence agency is working for bjp rss and vhp.
people will decide who will come to power....
I think shoba had a bad dream last night... Come on Shoba Wake up wake up.. Stop dreaming and get back to some work.
What a Joke, Shobakka should join Comedy Circus.Thank god she did not mention Yeddy as C.M and akka as Deputy C.M.
Shobha learnt Jothishya Shastra?
Dil ke behlane ko Ghalib, ye khayal accha hain.
HA ha ha ha ha ha ha
\DREAM GIRL\""
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